Joy In It All

My heart is overflowing with thankfulness for all God has been doing in my life and our family these past few months. Since the beginning of the fall, God has been intentionally pursuing me and asking me what am I seeking? What is my goal? I have had countless conversations with young moms who feel exasperated, reeling in chaos, searching for answers. God has used those women, as well as the struggle in my own life, to call me to truly invest in young moms. Make no mistake, I am in the throws of “young mom life” as well. I am constantly learning and growing, but I pray that you will join me on this journey of pursing joy in every part of your life.

Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. — Psalm 34:5

As God was calling me to write this blog and begin this ministry, I was not ready to receive it. I constantly had excuses of “No one will read it!”, “There are already so many blogs, God!” Finally, I came to the time when I asked God to give me a name. If He truly wanted me to do this, I needed a name to encompass what young moms are needing. Clearly and immediately He answered — joy. Now, joy does not mean happiness. Happiness is truly based on feelings and can change with the circumstances that surround you. Joy, on the other hand, is something that can only come from God– a fruit of the Spirit. YOU CAN live in joy when the circumstances of your life are not happy. YOU CAN live in joy when your toddler is in a season of temper tantrums. YOU CAN live in joy when your husband loses his job. Why? Because joy is given from God, from your Father. It is perfect, it is real, it is whole.

Through finding the title of my ministry, I then asked God for a verse. I really really wanted it to be a passage that I had not heard before! So, I asked Him for that. Within two days He brought me to Psalm 34:5. It encompassed everything He was teaching me. First, to “look to Him for help.” Nothing in my life– my ministry, motherhood, my marriage, NOTHING can be filled with joy if I am not first seeking Christ and looking to the One who is ready to help! I have a huge sin struggle- pride. I am the one who will do everything for everyone because I feel like I am the only one who can do it. This is something God has been working on in my life for a while now and showing me that when I am the one who does everything, I could be taking someone else’s true calling and blessing away from them. He has pulled me back to a place of rest. He has called me to a place to stop being a Martha of running here and there, to a calling of Mary. A place of being present both with Christ and my family. The next part of the verse that I love is “radiant with joy”. When I read this, the picture of a pregnant momma came to my mind. I don’t know about you but I LOVED LOVED being pregnant. Through all of the sickness and pain, it didn’t matter, because I knew in the end it would be a dream come true. When a women is pregnant, she glows, she radiates with a presence simply because she is carrying life inside of her. This is what God gives us. When you, when I, are looking to Him for help, we will RADIATE a joy that others can see!! It cannot be hidden, just like a woman who is in her 9th month of pregnancy cannot hide her precious bump.

My desire through this ministry is to help you find joy in the things the world says is chaos. To look to God for help first and foremost. God has not called you to live in shame. He has not called you to live in the chaos around you. Instead, He has called you to put on the fruit of the Spirit, which you have received as a follower of Christ, and to walk boldly and be radiant with His joy in your life!!