Joy Let Loose

March 31, 2022

Do More Things That Bring You Joy

A few practical ways to build your own joy.

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For some reason, I used to avoid joy.

I felt that choosing to do things that brought me joy was frivolous. Also selfish.

I believed that real value was found in hard work, so there wasn’t really room for play time. I didn’t know how important it was to build joy. How sad!

Find the Lie

I’m going to go ahead and be super honest with you here that I STILL wrestle with this lie from time to time. That joyful things need to be held off until after the hard stuff is done. Like I need to earn joy.

I. KNOW. The one who’s always talking about letting joy loose is on the joy struggle bus sometimes.

It’s almost like something wants to hold me back from living out my purpose…Go figure.

Replace it with Truth

Let me tell you what I tell myself when the struggle rises up:

  • Elizabeth, Jesus came so that your joy would be complete (John 15:11).
  • Today is a day that God made for you, so go ahead and rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24) because He is your glory and your joy. (1 Thess. 2:20)
  • And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Rom 15:13).
  • Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice. (Phil 4:4)

Why are you so downcast, O my Soul?

Another way to get in the habit of joy-building is to regularly journal your gratitude. Grateful souls tend to be joyful souls. Developing a rhythm of gratitude each morning sets us up to see our moments through the day with a better perspective, in in general to grow in increasing joy.

There is something so uplifting about speaking Scripture over your own downcast soul. Joy is such a good medicine (Proverbs 17:22) The Bible is alive and active and has the power to uplift even the saddest or most weary hearts. And when these words of truth and gratitude breathe joy back into my bones, it frees me up to step more fully into the life-giving things around me that fuel my enjoyment and express my God-wired purpose even more.

Do more things that bring you joy!

Next time you are discouraged, or overwhelmed by the hard, why don’t you give one of those methods a try too? Jesus desires for us to be full of His joy, and to do more things that bring us joy!

Tell me in the comments: What do you to increase your joy??

Elizabeth Joy

Posted in: Journey, Soul care
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March 18, 2022

It’s ok to have Jesus and a Therapist

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My struggle with mental health after my babies were born stayed silent because I was afraid to ask for help. Honestly, I thought this was just how I was so I needed to live with it.

But the seething postpartum rage was like volatile lava under the surface that had the potential to announce its destruction at any moment. Add in the mind mess of complete inadequacy as a mother and the pressure to “have enough faith in Jesus”, and it was a recipe for disaster.

It’s ok to have Jesus and a Therapist

It’s ok to have Jesus and a therapist

Mama, I’m sporting a sweatshirt today that says “It’s ok to have Jesus and a Therapist.” (Thank you, Grace Story Ministries!)

Find it here!

For a long time I bought the lie that a good Christian wouldn’t need any counsel outside of God Himself. That any uncertainty, emotional turmoil, or mind mess pointed only to an insufficiency of faith, and meant I needed to pray harder.

That assessment and advice are flawed human constructs and are in opposition to God’s design for us to be in community.

God Uses People

Friend, very often, the Lord actually brings healing through another person He has called and equipped with resources to help: a therapist, a doctor, a friend, a mentor, a pastor, a teacher, a wellness advocate, a coach.

He invites us to vulnerability, where we seek help from someone else.

And He invites us to open our eyes to see who He’s already placed in our lives.

In fact, He simultaneously infuses us with the wisdom, experience, and resources someone else needs on their own healing journey too.

He brings life through us even as He brings life to us. Which means I don’t need to have it all together. Or to pretend like I do. It simply rests as an invitation into connection with Him and with others.

My own journey with my emotions, thoughts, and physical health has actually opened me up to community and to purpose in a way I couldn’t have predicted.

What about you?

I wonder what will happen for you as you step into vulnerability, and lay hold of the help that’s around you in the people God has placed in your life?

Check this blog post I wrote a few years back:

God brought it back to my remembrance today. And I celebrate what He is birthing now out of that difficult season.

He really does make all things new.

Elizabeth Joy

Posted in: Wellness
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March 17, 2022

How to step in, even when you feel disqualified

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Have you been afraid of what God is calling you to? Does it feel just too big for you?

It probably is. And you probably won’t get it right. And you’ll see failure along the way, and experience moments where you want to quit. How’s that for hope for you today?

Listen, if the call you sense in your innermost being seems just too huge for little you, can I introduce you to a few people?

-Moses

-Jonah

-Elisha

-David

-Peter

Just to name a few…

All were called

All of them were called. All of them were too small.

They each doubted at some point that they could fulfill their calling. All eventually clung to the Lord and followed His direction in some way.

They each left incredible legacy, and showed us that legacy is possible despite human frailty, when we lean into the Lord, trust His voice, and choose to step forward with courage.

We won’t get it right

We won’t get it all right – we will fail sometimes. We’ll doubt ourselves, and we will doubt God.

We’ll say the wrong thing, and avoid the right conversation.

We’ll hide. We’ll get angry.

We’ll even lament our lot In life maybe.

But if God is welling something up under the surface, if He is calling us to something bigger than ourselves, we need to answer. And He’ll help us walk it out.

Let’s not put it off anymore.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NIV)

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