In your life, is it possible to avoid joy killers? As I pondered that question this week, I thought about what I have control over, what I have influence over and what I have no control over. Much of what kills my joy falls into the area of what I have no control. What then can I do to avoid the joy killers that I might control in spite of circumstance that I can’t control?
Expectations
I find when I have certain expectations about how something is to turn out and it doesn’t, I can kill my joy very quickly. For example, lately I have been disappointed with how God has been answering my prayers. Is that God’s fault? Is it my fault? No, there are lots of reasons for the waiting. In fact that is exactly the impression I am getting – wait! I get impatient though and when I focus on the answer I want instead of God’s goodness or the bigger picture, I can get frustrated, cranky or even depressed. In my readings, I am reminded from Isaiah 55:8
Isn’t this the truth? By remembering these verses though, I can go back to the bigger picture and get more calm and patient in my expectations.
Worry
Someone asked me last evening if I was a worrier. I have never seen myself as a worrier, although as I get older, worry and anxiety seem to creep in at the most inopportune times! Those emotions can certain be joy killers. I love these verses from Mathew 6: 25-34 about worry. Jesus is sharing his Sermon on the Mount and asks his listeners,” 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[? ” I think I take away an hour of my life by worrying, especially when what I worry about doesn’t occur. Jesus, then reminds us to 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ”
Fear
This emotion, too, can come at surprising times. I get fearful when I lose my focus. One visual that has been helpful to me is illustrated in this verse from Isaiah 41:10:
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
The idea that I can be upheld with God’s righteous right hand is 1) amazing and 2) comforting.
What about you? What emotions kill your joy? As we give our emotions to God and focus on His word, He restores the joy in our hearts. This focus doesn’t change our outward circumstances, yet joy gives us the positivity needed to deal with whatever we are facing. Let me know how you deal with your joy killers by commenting below or on NancyBoothCoaching facebook. I look forward to hearing about how you handle your joy killers.
Next week we will look at resources for you to explore around the topic of joy.
Nancy Booth is a certified life coach and certified brain-based coach. She loves creating safe spaces for women going through life’s transitions to discover and support their visions for health and well-being in an overwhelming world, explore possibilities for next steps and find hope. She writes about taming the overwhelm and reducing stress, looking for ways to motivate, energize and inspire you! You can sign up to receive her weekly blog or contact her to find out ways you can begin to shed overwhelm and stress. It’s time to explore possibilities of new relationships, better life pacing and gain hope and peace.