New Year - More Joy

Another year has come and gone, and I’m extremely tired of reading these words: “it has been a hard year for all of us.”

I don’t know if it has been a hard year for you or not. For me, 2020 was good.

I learned I’ll be a father of two.

Shiloh has grown and developed so much. It has been amazing to watch.

During quarantine, I was able to reconnect with my wife in a different way.

I had a great job and got another great job.

I learned a lot about myself and about leadership.

I also completed my first ever New Years resolution. I didn’t drink a real soda, only diet/zero ones.

These are just to name a few.

Maybe 2020 wasn’t a good year for you. Maybe it was. However, 2021 is here and nothing is going to change that.

This year I have a couple things I want to accomplish.

I want to write here more. I’ve said this before but I’ve got some specific goals to make this happen.

Next, I want to be more present on my socials. This is hard for me because I feel awkward and old. Haha!

Lastly, I want to be more joyful. 

I’m actually going to call 2021 the year of joy for me.

Being joyful is something that I have struggled with my whole life. I’m not sure why, but it is true.

I’ve blamed it on my personality for years, but I’ve come to the realization that’s not true.

Since the calendar has turned I’ve been studying what joy is in the Bible. I know it has only been 12 days, but I’ve learned so much. 

The main truth that has been marinating in my heart is, a lack of joy is a lack of trust in God.

I heard a small group leader at a ministry I provided oversight for say, “Happiness is based on what happens to you, but joy comes from the Lord.”

My problem was and still is, I let what happens to me affect my joy. If life is good, it is easy for me to be happy and show joy. When my days were filled with struggles and difficulties everyone around me knows it. I would be unhappy and have no joy at all.

Psalm 5:11 says, “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.”

My lack of joy is a lack of me trusting God as my refuge.

In Psalm 5 the word “refuge” in the Hebrew is defined as, put trust in, or confide or hope in God.

When I’m actively trusting God as my refuge, the result is joy. 

When I have no joy, I’m not putting my trust in God. He’s not my refuge.

So, this year, I’m going to actively trust God. I know I’m going to fail and I know it’s going to be hard, but I want joy.

I choose JOY!