Word of the Year

 JOY

I felt a clear nudge recently that my word for the year was going to be joy. I hadn't even begun to think about a word. This process actually usually takes much more intentional thought. But there it was. Joy is going to be your word.

You would think I would be excited by the word joy as my word for the year. I mean the dictionary defines joy as; a feeling of great pleasure or happiness that comes from success, good fortune, or a sense of well-being. That must mean the Lord is telling me great things are coming this year.

But I feel a different sense. 

A description of the word joy from blue letter bible says this: Christian joy is no mere gaiety that knows no gloom, but is the result of the triumph of faith over adverse and trying circumstances, which, instead of hindering, actually enhance it.

What if this is more where I will be headed this year?

I've already been praying heavily as I start this new ministry, because I know it will bring it's own set of challenges and possibly spiritual attacks. But as a 40 something year old woman, I feel my joy slipping away. Men, this might be the point you lose interest, but I suggest if you know any women in your life you might want to keep reading too.

Hormones. They are such an important part of our lives. They impact so much more of our body than we are likely aware of until things go wrong with them. I've always struggled when it comes to hormones, becoming an almost totally different person (at least I felt inside) when I had PMS. 

Then came my middle 40's. Sometimes PMS like symptoms seem to last for weeks on end. And while I get super frustrated with myself that I can't control my emotions, I'm sure it's even more frustrating for those around me who don't know or understand that I'm really not as grumpy as I sound.

I'd begun praying about my emotions several weeks ago. The ones I'm feeling more often, the ones that I'm not used to. The frustration and maybe even anger over things that I previously could find the upside to. The sadness over all the things that didn't come on as strong as it does now. 

This joy the Lord has nudged me to focus on this year isn't necessarily happiness. It isn't all smiles and good vibes. It's a closeness to Lord, that comforts me even when my emotions make me uncomfortable, maybe even somewhat unapproachable by others. It's finding peace in Jesus when nothing inside of me makes sense.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:6-7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4 

That being said, I also believe that God has led me to some new GOOD things in 2024 and with these bring so much joy in being in my obidience to him! Maybe, just maybe, some of the trials of starting the ministry are already behind me. Maybe the last year of preparing my heart and body to lead is bringing me to a joy I couldn't have imagined.

Either way, I'm here for it!

No one knows what tomorrow brings or what trials lie ahead of us. I pray that this year, through whatever comes my way, the good, the bad and everything in between. I choose joy.