Joy Through Prayer Is God’s Will

Sometimes we have to be reminded to be joyful.

You know: “When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when we’re feeling sad…”

“What exactly is joy?”

You may think that joy should just happen — a natural occurrence, a bubbling up of emotion due to happy thoughts or circumstances. For some of us that is true. Joy just seems to come easier for some than for others. But I would say, for most, the moments of sheer bliss and giggles are out — weighed by the mundane: the ordinary pain and suffering of computer issues, laundry, life’s tedious details — you know, the stuff of everyday life, where “joyful” does not describe our disposition.

This cloud of gray can cast a dark shadow over our family life, leaving us feeling frustrated and at odds with God, each other and the world.

“What exactly is joy?” you may ask.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, joy is  “a feeling of great happiness” and “a source or cause of great happiness.”

Related: ‘Faith in God Helped Me Endure’

As we all know, feelings come and go, but if we believe God is the source and author of joy, we have found our Artesian Well of lasting happiness. In both the Old and New Testament, we can see again and again that God created the world in order to share His joy, all that is Himself, with us. We serve a joyful God.

Thanks be to Him, we can access this source of joy anytime through prayer and praise and, according to Fr. Juan Pablo Duran, we can even infuse joy into our family life by practicing these four things:

1.) Reconciliation.
Say, “I am sorry” to God and to others when we have not been the best version of ourselves. This will open the floodgates of grace and restore right relationships and joy in our home.

2.) Service.
Are you sad? Do something for someone else. St. Mother Theresa said service is the sure cure for depression. Go as a family on a mission trip, feed the homeless, rake a neighbor’s yard, bake cookies for a sick friend. Serve God and look to help others. Get outside of yourself.

3.) Family.
Don’t go it alone. If you are having tough times, don’t close yourself in and have a pity party. Take whatever you may be going through to God together. Pray the rosary, invite friends over for prayer, engage others to help. Don’t shut down. There is strength and joy in community.

4.) Connection.
Don’t be in such a rush that you forget to enjoy each other on a daily basis. Sit, have a cup of coffee together, a glass of wine, an ice cream cone — and just talk. Joy comes in the moments of true connection. Life passes quickly. Be present and enjoy.

Pastor Rick Warren states that in every life, there will be times of great suffering and great joy, like train tracks running side by side. We have to choose which rail to ride.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”

Choose the practice of joy and then you “won’t feeeel soooo baaaad!”

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)

Dear Lord,

I want to be joyful! I want to be happy. I want my family to be joyful and loving and unified. Please help me to first make sure things are right between You and me.

Then help me to see if I need to apologize to anyone I may have hurt among my friends or family. Lord, if I have, please give me the grace and humility to ask for forgiveness. I want to be You and others focused. Help me to get outside of myself, because by doing this I will be serving and connecting with You, and that can’t help but bring me joy.

Thank You that You are a joyful and loving God and always choose to have relationship with me. I choose to choose You. By Your grace, I choose to practice joy.

I ask this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Melissa Overmyer is the founder of Something Greater Ministries in Washington, D.C., and has been teaching the Bible for over 30 years.