Have you ever had those days when you ask yourself, “When did life get so hard?” You lose sight of the joys and are overcome with challenging and overwhelming things in our lives.
The older we get, the more we realize we have asked that question more times than we want to admit. It seems like we are going from one thing to the next. Often feeling like you do not have time to take a breathe in between before the next thing comes.
I remember when I was just dating my husband, Eric, in college. I was so happy to be his girlfriend, but I was also looking on to the next phase of our lives. Looking at how soon I would be graduating and wondering if he was going to pop the big question. Hoping to take me from girlfriend to fiancee. The waiting and hoping made focusing on and enjoying how wonderful our relationship was at the time hard.
Eric later popped the question, I said yes, and then I graduated. As exciting as graduation and becoming his fiancee was, then came the realities of the real world. The start of a career, paying real bills, and planning a wedding. The joy and excitement of it all became overshadowed by all my new responsibilities and planning my dream wedding.
After the wedding was over and we settled into our newly married lives, then came the pressures from others. Friends and family wanting to know when we were going to start having kids and how I was going to maintain my career. The joys and the enjoyment of our newlywed status started to be hard to find. So our focus turned to expanding our family and how to maintain my career.
And the list can go on and on. Especially as our families and kids grow. We all go through different seasons of life when it seems hard to see the beauty and joy. With the realities and busyness of life, it can become so easy to lose sight of the blessings and the joys.
Choosing to Find Joy in Your Everyday
Yet, I have found that even in the busy and hard times that finding the joys in everyday life is so important. With the key to finding that joy starting with changing your focus.
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.
James 1:2 (MSG)
We have to choose to focus on the challenges or we can focus on the joys. We also can consider the challenges gifts because it allows us to look at the things that really matter and find the joys. Choosing to not focus on our challenges, struggles, or busyness. Yet changing our perspective so we can find the joys in the midst of the ups and downs of everyday life.
For those looking to get married, you can choose to be so overwhelmed with waiting for “the one” or for him to pop the question. Or you can choose to enjoy and find the joy in dating and setting a firm God-centered foundation for a future marriage.
For those planning a wedding or in the newlywed stage of life, you can choose to be so overwhelmed with the details of the wedding or trying to expand your new family. Or you can choose to enjoy this season. The beauty of the wedding day and the covenant you have embarked upon.
For those in the midst of the busyness of motherhood, you can choose to so overwhelmed with all kids needs, to-dos, and over-loaded schedules. Or you can choose to enjoy the journey and find the joy in the every day of motherhood.
Choosing Joy Involves a Heart Change
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 (ESV)
Choosing joy every day helps to change our hearts as well. A joyful heart in the midst of any of the seasons of life we go through can change our perspective and our attitude. Helps us to not focus on being overwhelmed and find ways to be grateful in the midst of it all. Having a heart filled with joy and gratitude keeps your spirit lifted and helps you live your best life.
Finding joy in your every day can be easier said than done, yet so important and can be life-changing. So we are going to take some time to together to do just that. Finding the joys in our everyday lives as women, as wives, as and mothers. Are you with me?
I’d love to hear about how you are finding joy in your every day in the comments!
I struggle a ton during the winter with the cold and lack of sunshine, so this post was the perfect thing for me to read today.
So true. Great reminder. It’s hard to remember to do sometimes.
It is definitely not easy, Cheyenne.
Enjoying the journey is such a good reminder. Every moment is special, and we shouldn’t have the “live for the weekend” mentality!
I totally agree, Kristin.
It’s hard to not keeping looking ahead and to remain in the moment. But I’m learning to enjoy the everyday life, too.
This is a good reminder! Getting overwhelmed in everyday life is so complicated nowadays. One of my morning affirmations is “I am in control of everything in my world and the source of every result, good or bad.” This includes the choice of everyday joy 😊
Too often I’ve allowed joy to slip away without even realizing it. It’s so important to remember that we do, in fact, have a choice!!
I totally get how you feel! My husband and I got married last year and everyone’s just asking us when are we going to have kids! Pressure!!
I just love this post. Joy hides in so many places throughout our days and our lives in general.
Aww…this is so wonderful! I really love reading this blog. Let’s find joy in our everyday life!
This is so true!! We must find joy in EVERY part of life! When I do this, even through the toughest of times, it helps me get through it all 🙂
Love this post! Joy definitely doesn’t come from striking items off my todo list. More time playing and smiling with my kids.
i think its so important to find joy in your daily life. it makes for happier living and a more relaxed life.
I totally agree, Karen.
You know, I was having a rough couple of days and I read this at just the right time. Thank you for that. Finding joy in the every day is so important!
I’m so glad that this was able to speak to you right when you needed it, Megan. We all hare those times when e may be struggling and God shows up right on time.
We have more power to affect how we experience everyday moments than we usually recognize. Lately I’ve been taking that power back by choosing gratitude. It’s not always easy, but it helps me reframe frustration!
Yes, Catherine. We have so much power we do not use, even when it is not always easy.
It is hard to find joy in everything, but when we have A God who loves us and has a plan for us, then it becomes easier.
Having God at the center of our joyous heart is so important, Anne.
I love this. It is so easy to get distracted and focus too much on the future and not be in the present. Thank you for the reminder!
It’s definetely not easy but this is the key to a happier life, that’s for sure x
Be grateful for that everyday! I cant wait to find love like that
Yes girl! I love this! Such a good post. I agree that you should find joy in your everyday life.
This is so true. Finding joy in the every day, every moment is such an important life motto to live by. With intention and thought.
I love this! We can find joy, even in difficult periods, we just have to make the choice to do so. I’ve found that when I’m in the habit of it, it’s an easy thing to do.
What a beautiful life story you have so far! And I totally agree, we really need to take one day at a time, and enjoy the moment, because we can never go back to that moment.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Dr. K. Knowing that you cannot get any moment back definitely helps you to keep the right perspective.
Beautifully written. It is so important to find that joy in a marriage. I’m happy to say that my husband and I have always been strong, but we are at our at most best right now,. Great advice for all couples.
I really like what you said about choosing joy requires a heart change. It’s not always easy to choose joy.
Getting to the heart of the matter is always key, Karen. A heart change can cause a life change.
Gah, I get stuck in the trap of “what’s next” often so trying to be more present and grateful this year too!
This is such a great reminder, especially as we start a new year. I definitely want to be more aware and grateful for everything I have. Joyful people make the world a better place!
Finding Joy in everyday moments is BIG in my book. It’s easy to get weighted down with life and completely miss the simple things that bring joy. I have my family write down daily one thing they found joy in that day. It’s been a great thing for us.
It is so critical to live in the present and enjoy the journey! Thank you for this reminder, Ayanna!
Thank goodness we have found joy in our marriage and life. Be thankful everyday