Advent 2022 – Day 9
Monday, December 5th
Freedom = Joy & Joy = Freedom
By Jamie Butler/ Season of life: 44, Editor, Avid Eater
Scripture
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. ~ Galatians 5:1
In the winter of 2019, I had to go non-weight bearing for 6 weeks because of a very painful knee issue. Of course, the muscles atrophied, so then I had to spend many weeks doing physical therapy to build them back up.
This is such a minor problem compared to people who have chronic pain for YEARS, but as a wife and mother of 2 boys with many activities, it was not easy! Until this time, I never realized how connected our mental health is to our physical health. I saw pretty quickly that depression could hit me and that the enemy could use this time to tear me down and tear my family down in the process.
But God!
One of my favorite phrases in Scripture—“but God”. God said. “Nope; you’re not gettin’ this one, Satan!” Don’t get me wrong; it wasn’t all peaches and cream around here, but the Lord truly gave me joy despite my circumstances.
I’ve always been a ‘glass half full’ person by nature; it’s just innate in me. I naturally tend toward happiness over sadness or just ‘blah’ness. But I’m slowly (it takes me a minute, y’all) realizing that happiness is not what the Lord has in mind for me; He wants me to be JOY-filled. Happiness is fleeting and based on circumstances; joy is a choice. A DAILY choice.
The Lord, in his graciousness, is teaching me to CHOOSE to be joyful no matter what my circumstances because my Savior loves me and has won the ultimate war, no matter what battle I’m facing. He died not only to save me but also so that I could be FREE and, thus, filled with joy.
Truly, it is for freedom that Christ has set me free—free from the chains of sin and death, and free from a fleeting happiness that is based on circumstances,and on to a true, grounded joy instead. I can have joy because he has set me free, and that joy is a daily reminder of the freedom He gives. Thank you, Lord Jesus!
Closing Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for staying so close to me and rooting for me when I get it wrong daily, hourly. Thank you, Lord, that you will never, ever leave me. Thank you, Lord, for joy.
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Reflections
In what current circumstances are you struggling to live with joy?
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If you chose to focus on joy in those circumstances, how might it affect you and the people around you?
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“But God!” Spend a moment in prayer, asking the Lord to show you a “But God!” moment in your life that you may have missed. Write it below.
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Lord God, may I “repeat the sounding joy” of who You are today!