Don't Give Up! Let JOY burst forth when You don't feel llke it!

I try to be grateful when the Holy Spirit brings to mind a verse that speaks to a specific need I have in the moment. This week I the verse that came was one I learned many years ago, (Rom 12:11-12) from the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible...

11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

The thing was, in the moment, I was 'lacking in zeal' and my spiritual fervor in doing anything to serve the Lord felt close to extinguished.
*Partly it was health - a nasty cold I got on top of some other issues that were not cooperating,
*partly cloudy focus which has been deeply impacted by a gray day and lace of sun,
*and more than a little I was feeling discouragement that things i was doing weren't accomplishing all that I envisioned for them, in life, health, relationship, business, etc.

... and all that impacted by my response - or lack of one- to verse 12

Be Joyful--- IN HOPE
Patient in the affliction
Faithful...
O Lord, really?

I don't feel good. I hurt all over. I'm struggling to do anything- let alone want to do it- especially not today!

I really hate to admit that to you. Afterall, that situation is a huge part of the work I do with and for other women-- I should have that figured out for myself, right?

Well, I was told by a mentor, "our greatest pain often becomes our greatest service to our world." So...I must have some GREAT work yet ahead of me.

However, those verses have meant a lot to me through many times in my life when I needed them. During the isolation of covid, I made an image to hang by my desk to remind me of the powerful message with a sunset set picture I took out my front door. But this time Holy Spirit used the Passion Translation to break through to me. Sometimes you just need to hear something said a little different way to resonate in your brain.

This week, as I looked up from my desk - feeling a longing for more, yet a overwhelming sense that I was not 'cutting it", I saw that image hanging on my wall with these words.

(Rom 12:11-12 tpt) Be enthusiastic to serve the Lord, keeping your passion toward him boiling hot! Radiate with the glow of the Holy Spirit and let him fill you with excitement as you serve him. Let this hope burst forth within you, releasing a continual joy. Don’t give up in a time of trouble, but commune with God at all times.

I saw "be enthusiastic" and I heard the "be zealous, fervent in your service for the Lord." Ugh! Lord, I can't manufacture that at all right now.

But I also saw the "let the Holy Spirit fill you with excitement"
"Let this HOPE burst forth in you releasing joy"

DON'T GIVE UP IN A TIME OF TROUBLE!

"Commune with God! " Commune! Ah I love the verb of that word!
share your most intimate thoughts and feelings with the Lord,
feel in close, personal contact.

That's my love language. Quality Time and Conversation. Keyword being quality, I suppose.

That is not something I have to force to happen on a 'terrible, horrible, not very good day".

When I do the one thing I can do - after not giving up of course, when I share my honest thoughts and feelings with the Lord, he will give me what I need to do the rest.

So I did - or rather I didn't give up! And honestly, I spent some time ranting for a while being sure to address ALL of the issues I was feeling at the moment. And as I did, I began to sense a stillness in my spirit, and SPACE in my heart that had been cluttered with all the fear, anger, sadness and grief I had been experiencing.

And as the space grew, so did places where joy began to bubble up, enthusiasm and excitement for living began to ooze out - not all at once, but enough to give the the courage to reach out to a friend who could walk with me.

Oh girlfriend, what do you do on those days when you feel low? When it's 'almost spring, but not quite' and you feel like you get beat up with the highs and lows in anticipation of warmer weather and growing things.

I know the dark days will come, but I have a 'plan' for how to navigate them.

DON'T GIVE UP!

DO spend time with God!

What are the verses that come to mind?
or the songs that come on your playlist?
or the words of a friend that speak to the core of your heart?

I'd love to hear from you! When we share how God shows up for us - we not only encourage others with it - but we affirm it in our own hearts and minds as well.

Whatcha thinking?