Joy found in our praise

a few weeks ago, I found myself sitting in the car spilling my jumbled up thoughts and frustrations with my mom regarding why I was struggling to feel true joy.

As soon as anything seemed to be going right, someone or something was standing there ready to snatch the peace and happiness I had just reclaimed.

It was frustrating and discouraging trying to understand why my heart was struggling to feel joy when I am in a season that I had prayed for and dreamed of.

In the moment, I didn't know what the solution was. But a few days later, my mom did.

She texted me the song "Defender" by Steffany Gretzinger with a message that said:

"Selena I feel like God just laid this song on my heart for you! Worship, uninterrupted worship and praise to Him. That's your answer! Poor it all out at His cross and just praise Him!"

My initial reaction was to doubt that it could really be that easy. Plus, more often than not, I do not want to sing praises when I am hurting or frustrated.

But, I tried it.

It was as if in that moment, my weary heart was suddenly able to understand worship in way I never had before.

Praising God is the way I am meant to fight my battles.

Not with my fists clenched and my body tense fighting in my own strength day after day.

But rather singing praises of who God is, renewing my heart and strength by reminding me who is King.

What I truly mean by that is, your circumstances are not able to consume you when you are completely consumed with worshipping God.

When my eyes are so focused on praising Him and who He is, I am able to remember His true and perfect character. When I remember who God is, I am able to lift my hands in complete surrender of my life so that He can fight on my behalf as I come into His presence at the feet of the cross where He embraces me.

While prayer, reading God's Word, and being in community are all key ways to help us fight; the ultimate way to fight is by allowing God to fight on our behalf. In Exodus 14:14 it says, "The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still".

BE STILL and let God fight for you.

As Christians we say we let God fight for us while we are exhausted, anxious, tired, and burnt out.

I have found that sometimes God in His sovereignty allows for things in our life that are too big for us to even try and fight on our own so we have to run to Him.

How different would our hard days look if instead of focusing on us and our circumstances we just praised God?

Last I checked, He is worthy of our praise whether or not your life circumstances are good.

Happiness depends on our circumstances,

joy depends on our God.

And our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Because the concept of joy is easier said than done (and I even struggle to fully grasp it) I looked up it's definition.

The definition that came up was this:

Joy is: "a state of mind and an orientation of the heart. It is a settled state of contentment, confidence, and hope. // Deep abiding."

Wow, joy is so much more than "being happy". maybe we have it wrong.

Happiness is temporary, joy can be constant.

A true joy brings something so much deeper than happiness that I can only describe as awe.

After my mom sent me that text, I prayed that God would help me to be able to truly experience the joy that I can only find in Him. Words can't explain how much I needed God to soften my heart, and wow was He so faithful. As He brought me into His abundant joy, so much more than happiness sprung forth. Gratitude, peace, faith, trust, and rest were found at the heart of joy. Or should I say, at the heart of God. My morning walks are now filled with taking pictures of things I had seen before but now capture my attention in new ways, my heart is overflowing with gratitude for where God has currently placed me and more confidence in who He made me to be, and I have a new found awe for the God who draws me into His heart with His loving embrace day by day.

Now does this mean I have been smiling and happy every moment since I prayed that prayer?

No. I'm human and you are too.

Also, joy does not mean eternal happiness and it isn't supposed to.

But wow has my heart begun to change and see how much more I desire the joy of the Lord over the happiness of this fleeting world.

To deeply abide is so much greater, and when I abide I can simply be still in the presence of God and allow Him to fight for me, to be with me, to hold my right hand.

What a gift we have to be able to receive joy from a God who desires to give it to us freely in His presence. How I imagine fighting now is so much more empowering than I did before.

Before I imagined putting on my defensive armor and shielding myself from the attacks of the enemy each day.

Now I imagine my hands lifted high in abandon, my smile wide with my eyes radiating from the glory of my King before me. He steps down from His throne, embraces me, and takes off His scarlet robe and wraps me in it. He stands tall, firm. It may be the scars in His hands, or the crown on His head, but my heart rests fully assured that the battle raging around me has already been won. It is finished. All that is left is to praise my King.

And in my praise I found my joy again...or should I say, I found my King again.

Songs:

Defender: Francesca Battistelli ft. Steffany Gretzinger

Yet Not I but Through Christ in me: Shane & Shane (feat. Bethany Barnard)

I'll Give Thanks: Housefires & Kirby Kaple