Joy Doesn't Have to be Illusive! The Best Way to Get Joy Back

Woman sitting on a large window sill with window open. Eyes are closed as she sits calm and relaxed hold a coffee cup

Hey Mama!

Joy can feel so illusive in the mundane. Do you go to bed wondering if you will ever have fun again? Is motherhood, being a wife, doing all the things, is it supposed to be this hard? Why am I so tired at the end of the day, then wake up and have to do the same thing all over again tomorrow? Maybe that dread for tomorrow creeps in, you know it’s all going to be the same thing, kids screaming, bills to pay, house to clean, meals to cook, work, laundry, the list goes on. How can you actually find joy in all of this?

It’s in the little moments that the fulfillment and fun comes. Remember the little moments in life. As we talk about ways to get out of depression, fear, anxiety, and overwhelm, the little special moments in life are what make all the struggle worth it. Today, let’s focus on the things in life that have been a blessing.

Listen to the full episode here:

Joy in the Little Moments

There is a song that I listen to on a regular basis called Million Little Miracles by Maverick City. Really their entire album titled Old Church Basement is worth downloading. I put those songs on repeat!

The song goes like this:

“All my life, I’ve been carried by grace. Don’t ask me how ’cause I can’t explain. It’s nothing short of a miracle I’m here. I’ve got some blessings that I don’t deserve. I’ve got some scars but that’s how you learn. It’s nothing short of a miracle I’m here. I think it over and it doesn’t add up. I know it comes from above. I’ve got miracles on miracles. A million little miracles. Miracles on miracles, miracles on miracles. Count your miracles. One two three four I can’t even count ’em all. You held me steady so I wouldn’t give up, you opened doors that nobody could shut. I hope I never get over what you’ve done.”

Take a pointer from this song. Count your miracles. What has God done in your life?

It is the little special moments in life that make all the struggle worth it, let’s focus on the things in life that are a blessing.
-Jen McGraw

Big or Small Moments, All You Have to do is See Them

Take the moments in your day when your husband said I love you. When your kids said I love you, or when they gave you a special picture they drew. It’s those moments that are what life is all about.

There have been times when my daughter Georgia has helped voluntarily (and enjoyed it, what?!) with the boys. She played nice and actually had fun. I would come out into the room and I hear her and James laughing and giggling, then Caleb doing his little growl when he plays and they are having so much fun. Their big smiles, their giggles, the pure happiness on their faces. Those are the moments I want to remember.

Another time, Caleb was crying in his car seat as I was getting everything ready to head out for the morning, the car seat sitting on the floor next to the bags ready to be taken out. I look over and James is rocking the car seat, shushing like he hears us do, just being so gentle trying to help calm his brother the way he has seen us calm him so many times. I could have been so frustrated that Caleb was screaming, that I had so much to do before leaving the house because my routines were off that morning. Instead, I chose not to get frustrated. I chose to see the beauty in what was able to transpire because of the way the morning was going.

These are small things, but when they happen, it is important to pause and take a mental note. I don’t want to forget those moments.

Where Do I Start?

Here’s a task for you. Grab a pen and paper. Write down 2 moments from today or yesterday if you can’t find one thing from today, that you want to commit to memory. What is something that reminds you of God’s miracles in your life? It can be small, or it can be some huge blessing He has given you. No matter how big or small, when you have the blessings at the forefront of your mind, in those difficult times, where joy seems illusive, you can draw on those blessing and remember that God is there. He is blessing you, taking care of you, loving you even when it does’t feel that way.

Maybe you feel weak, unable to do what you need to do in the day, you are worn out and there isn’t enough coffee in the town to keep you going today. Remember this verse:

My grace is enough, it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size-abuse, accidents, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! Ans so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9

Let your weakness be what pushes you to your knees in prayer as you remember the million little miracles in your life.

God’s Grace is All You Need

God’s grace is sufficient. When you are weak, tired, can’t go one more step, God has what you need to keep going. He is made stronger in your weakness. Let Christ give you the strength you need to get through the rest of the day and give Him the credit. He is the reason you can have joy no matter the circumstances. There are days I know it’s only because of God’s strength I made it to the end of the day because I had nothing left to give. Yet, as I felt depleted from the day, I still felt fulfilled and full of joy, no matter how ready for bed I was.

As I go through the day I make it a point to look for the moments of joy, the little smiles and spontaneous hugs from the kids. The moment they are generous and kind to a stranger, my toddler knowing where to grab a cloth to clean the juice he spilled on the floor without me even prompting him. They are small moments but moments I never want to forget.

Don’t let the busyness of life cause you to miss out on the precious moments that are happening all around you. Busyness can steal your joy.
-Jen McGraw

Don’t Let Busyness Steal Your Joy!

Don’t let the busyness of life cause you miss out on the precious moments that are happening all around you. Busyness can steal your joy. Put your phone down. Stop scrolling through social media. Sit next to your kids on the floor and play a game, read a book, or have a conversation. These are the moments you will miss if you don’t take them now. These are the days you are going to look back on and you won’t remember the errands you had to run, or how messy the house was, or how much was on your to-do list.

You will remember the conversation with your child, the big hug they gave you when you sat and gave them your undivided attention instead of them needing to compete with your phone for your attention. Don’t miss out on the moments in life because you are too focused on the busy.

Stop with the busy, look to God for your strength, and find joy in those precious little moments.