How to Keep Your Joy in the Lord: 7 Ways
Daylight met us without hesitation today—clear and blue as infinity. As I sat beside the window and prepared for another day, I felt the heaviness in my chest and realized my joy was lacking. Perhaps you can relate. You want to learn how to keep your joy in the Lord even when life feels challenging.
In challenging times, it’s easy to take our eyes off God and get swept into the stress and anxiety surrounding us.
How to Keep Your Joy in the Lord
As I reflected on this tendency this morning, two familiar words came to mind: “Martha, Martha. . .”
These two words come to mind often: When I feel pulled away by the temptation to hurry through my days, when I feel overwhelmed by my to-do list, and when productivity begins to take priority over presence.
Jesus spoke these words to stressed-out Martha as she prepared a meal for her guests.
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things” (Luke 10:41, NLT).
“If not for me, this place would fall apart, and nobody would eat,” Martha might have muttered under her breath.
As I reflected on Martha’s self-pitying attitude this morning, reality struck me. At times, I mutter these same words.
How to Keep Your Joy in the Lord: 7 Ways
Sitting in the morning light, I pulled out my notebook and began reflecting on how to keep the joy of the Lord.
If you’ve been thinking about how to keep your joy in the Lord, perhaps these reflections will encourage you, too.
1. Focus on the good in others instead of dwelling on their shortcomings.
How often do you dwell on critical thoughts about your coworkers, family members, or friends? Maybe you feel like you’re the only one who cares about keeping your house clean. Perhaps you feel like you do more than your fair share at work.
Most of us face times when we feel like we’re putting forth more effort than others. At these times, it’s tempting to focus on critical thoughts about others.
Sadly, when we allow our thoughts to be consumed with critical and negative thoughts, we lose the joy of the Lord.
Instead of focusing on negative, critical, and self-pitying thoughts, I’ve learned to focus on the good in others. Even when I feel like I’m working harder or carrying an unfair burden, I try to shift my focus to the gifts others bring into my life.
In doing so, my sense of joy always increases.
2. Remember the One you are serving.
Scripture reminds us that those who receive the applause of other people have received their reward in full. If you’re annoyed that no one thanks you or notices your hard work, maybe it’s time to remind yourself that your lasting reward is not on earth but in heaven.
We all face hard, humble, hidden work in certain realms of our lives.
Instead of grumbling about this work, imagine the shift we might experience by remembering that we are serving the Lord. We are serving God when we wash the dirty dishes, scrub the sticky floors, and scour the stained shower tiles. Instead of grumbling, what if we asked God to change our hearts and help us give thanks for the gift of able bodies and people to serve?
3. Speak words of hope to yourself.
Have you ever said, “I will never get over this”?
Words are powerful. Tell yourself that you will never heal, never find victory, or never overcome, and you might never get over it. Scripture paints a very different story, a story in which we can overcome absolutely anything through the power of Christ in us.
Dig into the truth about the freedom you already have in Christ. His arm is not too short to save you. He can help you heal from even the deepest losses and the most life-shaking traumas. Keep speaking words of hope to yourself.
How to Keep Your Joy in the Lord by Caring for Others:
4. Look for what you can give instead of what you can receive in every situation.
Have you ever said, “I’m not getting anything out of this”?
In a consumer-driven society, we’re prone to speak these words about everything from the Bible studies we join to the church services we attend. Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit can speak through any message at any time. Instead of looking for what you can “get out of it,” maybe it’s time to look for what you might be able to give.
5. Instead of looking for someone to make you feel included, watch for the needs around you.
What thoughts do you embrace when you walk into crowded rooms?
I used to immediately feel tense as I looked for people who might make me feel included.
Then, I learned to shift from an inward focus to an outward focus. I stopped thinking about my insecurities and started asking God to show me people who needed his love and encouragement. This shift has forever transformed the way I walk into social situations.
The next time you walk into a crowded room, ask God to show you someone who needs his love. (For more ideas on how to get over your fears about fitting in and, instead, find someone to love, join me here.)
6. Encourage someone else.
Proverbs 11:25 reminds us that when we refresh others, we will be refreshed in the process.
When I’m feeling down, looking for a way to encourage or serve someone else always fills me with joy. This is a simple yet powerful way to step into God’s joy.
Sometimes, the best way to fill your heart is to step into someone else’s need and meet them in that place.
Send a thoughtful card in the mail.
Set up a lunch date.
Reach out with a caring text.
Call a lonely friend or relative.
Bake and deliver a batch of cookies.
Grab an extra coffee on the way to work.
Do a household chore that normally belongs to someone else.
Call in a pizza for friends when their kids are sick.
These simple gestures can lift your head and renew your joy.
Focus on your needs, and you will be blinded to the needs of others. Instead of worrying about why no one is looking out for you, look for someone else to love and help. #berefreshed #lovingothers Share on X7. Keep track of God’s gifts.
Begin each day by spending a few moments thanking God for his goodness, and you can rewire your brain for joy.
Make a running list of the gifts in your life, and the neuropathways in your brain can change.
Focus on what is pure, lovely, right, good, and true, and you will cultivate deeper joy and happiness.
As for me, I’m looking with gratitude at the little people who make big messes and forget to thank me for my efforts. I’m keeping track of the gifts, and pursuing these habits. This might change the trajectory of our summer. I sense I’m onto something.
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