What if nothing changes? Can you still choose joy?
Welcome back to our 31 Days of Grace for Pastor’s Wives!
Life at the Howard cottage has been just a wee bit insane busy lately, but I’m back today with another “grace” post for my fellow minister’s wives… and anyone else who has ever struggled to choose joy in the midst of a less-than-perfect life.
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Blame it on my melancholy personality, my perfectionist nature, my parents, my next door neighbors, my dog… cast the blame wherever you wish, but the fact remains:
Joy has never come easily for me.
I used to believe that joy was the prize I would discover when I finally arrived at my greatest destination in life-
Perfection.
Over the years, “perfection” and “joy” have been attached to many different if only’s.
If only an amazing man would love me and want to marry me, I would be happy.
If only I could be a wife and mother, with beautiful, healthy babies… life would seem just about perfect.
If only I could have a really comfortable, nice home, instead of always living in a fixer-upper… or a parsonage!
If only I could convince my husband that he needs to change… he really is the one making me feel so unhappy.
If only our church would grow and we had more workers. I feel so overwhelmed with juggling ministry and motherhood!
If only we could make enough money to live a little more comfortably. It’s hard to be happy when finances are always tight.
If only we lived closer to my family and had a little help with our kids.
If only we DIDN’T live so close to family!
If only I could lose a little weight and feel better about myself.
If only I had more friends. I’m soooo lonely.
If only my children weren’t so strong-willed and difficult. Motherhood looks easier for everyone else.
If only I had more time to myself. I’d feel less frustrated and stressed if I just had more time to rest and do stuff I really enjoy.
If only…
If only…
If only…
If I may be completely honest with you:
Every season of my life has failed to reach my expectations.
Perfection always eluded me, and joy slipped just beyond my grasp.
I remember the day (just a few years ago) when I scribbled the desperate words in my journal:
Joy is such an elusive concept for me! I don’t know what it looks like, sounds like, or feels like.
I have always desired to enjoy life, but I never could allow myself to because _______________________.
The reasons varied from day to day and year to year, but there was always this issue, that circumstance, or so-and-so to rob my contentment and satisfaction with life.
And then one day I made a decision.
I was standing in the kitchen of our home with my arms up to my elbows in soapy water at the sink. My eyes were staring out the kitchen window, but I really didn’t see anything.
I was angry. I was crying. I was praying.
I was sick of being so unhappy, so unable to find contentment and peace with the reality of my life.
As I cried and poured out my heart to the Lord, He interrupted my pitiful complaining with a probing question,
“What if things never change? Can you still choose joy?”
I thought of all the “issues” in my life I was unhappy about.
I thought of all the people and circumstances I wished would either go away or improve.
What if all that never changed?
What if I couldn’t change anything or anyone… but myself?
Personal change has been a long process for me, but something very fundamental happened in my heart that day:
I decided that I was the only one responsible for the measure of joy in my life.
I decided to enjoy life. As it is. Today.
Amen! Amen!
Joy is a choice. Wallowing in self-pity (even with good cause!) is a choice. Thanks for the encouragement to choose joy.
I’m right there with ya! I’ll remember this! Thanx for sharing! It’s been crazy hard around here lately. I need to make this a priority!
Btw, miss seeing you on FB so often. You are always inspiring! I love your honesty and ability to be so transparent and real in your walk with the Lord and raising a family and being a wife etc. Plus, your recipes are super yummy. 😉 I’m about to make your pumpkin spice granola but this time as a topping for pumpkin ice cream I made from my goat’s milk. Now if this Texas weather would just cooperate, right. 😉
I find myself in this exact place so many times. I am always looking for things to get better. I don’t think I have allowed myself to think about how I will handle it if things never change. I will definitely be giving this thought and prayer. I do feel many times like joy is just out of my reach.. Thank you so much for such an encouraging post !!
You’re welcome, April. I think the devil fights us in this area so much because the Lord intended our lives to be full of abundant joy. It’s been quite a journey for me to overcome in this area, and it’s still a daily, conscious choice.
Hi Kristy,
You know what, all your if only’s sounds like an exact description of my state-of-mind now. They seem like the words inside my heart just waiting to be uttered, but I’d rather don’t.
I feel so greatly blessed reading this, this spares me from even more depression by making me realize “true joy” at this point of my life as a pastor’s wife, a mother, and a woman. It makes me feel positive that if only I take heed of what I’ve read, learning and changing for the better will be less difficult and even enjoying(I hope I remember this every time)
Thank you for sharing! You really speak to and from the heart.
With love,
Mitch
Thank you, Mitch. One thing I’ve learned: Always be honest with yourself, even if the truth isn’t very nice to admit! I think the Lord would rather us be transparent before Him so He can point out what needs to change, and then help us overcome.
Your comments are always a blessing to me, sweet friend! <3 Thank you for reading and sharing.
Great post, Kristy! I just heard a message preached on this; very good thought. If you want to delve into this subject in a practical way, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp is good read.
Thank you for the recommendation, Anna. I’ve wanted to read One Thousand Gifts for a while now… maybe I’ll put it on my Christmas list this year. 🙂