Joy

"Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times." -Romans 12:12

"This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." -Nehemiah 8:9-10

It's hard to know how to put into words all that God is teaching me about his joy. This theme is one that has been persistent over the last few months and I am so glad that it has. I don't know that I've ever been good with changes, but I think that some things about change get easier as we get older. However, there are some changes that get harder as time passes thanks to all the hard things about changes. Thankfully as God teaches me to open my hands to the changes, He's also teaching me about His abundant joy.

This weekend I went back to Philly after being away for about a year. I revisited family and friends and places that hold a lot of memories for me and a lot of unrest. I got in pretty late on Friday so I didn't have time to do much besides sleep, but when I woke up on Saturday morning I was hit with a whole heap of anxiety over what was in store for me. After I went downstairs and had breakfast with my grandma I noticed on her windowsill sad Romans 12:12. I don't know what the translation was but the first line read be glad. I must have read the passage over and over again this weekend and I was constantly struck by that line be glad and prayerful always.

God always defies my expectation by speaking to me in the places where I'm not looking and sending me answers to the questions I don't think I'm asking. Someone pointed out this weekend how God is always joyful. I've been encouraged and convicted to take a step back from my world and step into God's where the victory is already won and where we live in a land of joy over who God is and what He's done.

I slowly learn and relearn this lesson and as I do I see God slowly opening my hands to change and joy and to perseverance.

My hands are open to the knowledge that you have healed lepers with nothing more than water
with nothing more than words
My hands are open to the promise that you love me more than I will ever know or understand
and my hands are open to the hope that I will one day be able to open my hands

But until that day
I sit
with hands resting on knees
open to the promise of you.