Clinging to Joy

Joy has been on my heart this week as I’ve considered the life of ministry my husband and I embarked on together a little over sixteen years ago. I’m likely not telling you anything you don’t already know, Sister, but during our time spent in ministry there have been times of immense happiness and there have been times of tremendous pain. 

We’ve cozied down on hospital beds with brand new babies and sobbed in hospital floors as loved ones departed. 

We’ve cheered on numerous graduates and newlyweds and shared coffee and grief with those brokenhearted by the unfair things in this world. 

We’ve been the first to receive those glorious first hugs after baptisms, and we’ve been the first calls when someone’s had a tragic accident that changed their life forever. 

I’ve treasured up little moments in my heart in which folks have showered praise on my husband, and I’ve also flinched at four-letter words shouted angrily at me in a church hallway. 

All of those “hills and valleys” are just part of what happens when you jump whole-heartedly into a life that aims to share the light of Jesus with real, everyday people in a real, unfair, unjust, beautiful-but-broken world. You’re not perfect, your husband’s not perfect, and the people you serve aren’t perfect either. 

But for me, those “hill and valley” moments all seem strangely par for the course – it’s actually the little moments when my husband occasionally just looks exhausted or discouraged, or his subtle confirmation of ongoing unsolved frustrations that are harder sometimes for me to navigate. It’s in those moments, especially if I’m already feeling a little down myself, that I struggle to know how to encourage my husband best and feel encouraged myself. It’s then that choosing to cling to my joy tends to be the most necessary. 

Paul’s letter to the Philippians holds some of my very favorite reminders about joy and contentment, and it continues to blow my mind that every one of the 16 times he writes the words “joy” and “rejoice” in this letter, he’s doing so from prison. That important context and perspective gets me every time I read this short but powerful book. 

In Philippians 4:4, he writes, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” That singular verse is catchy, but Paul doesn’t mic-drop and stop there. He goes on to offer practical advice to his readers to help them cling to their joy. In the following passage (v 4-7) he instructs his readers to hand their worries over to God in prayer with thankfulness so that they will be filled with peace that will guard their hearts and minds. Finding ways to keep gratitude in the forefront of our minds is a powerful force in combatting discontentment. In verse 8, he instructs his readers to think on things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. He’s reminding us that the things on which we allow our minds to dwell matters in a big way when it comes to clinging to our joy and pursuing contentment. Later in verses 11-12, Paul explains that he’s learned how to be content regardless of his current situation. How, Paul? In verse 13 he says it’s through Christ who gives him strength! 

Paul’s Spirit-led words continually remind me that unlike happiness, joy isn’t built on the shaky ground of my circumstances. Joy doesn’t come from within me or what I do. It doesn’t come from praise from our church family or picture-perfect Sundays. It doesn’t come from doing what makes me happy in an endless pursuit. Joy doesn’t even come from my family’s day-to-day excitement about success and growth in our ministry. That joy comes directly from the Lord – it’s a fruit of the Spirit that manifests itself as we marvel in the grace and forgiveness that’s been lavished upon us. This world can absolutely take away my happiness, but it cannot take away my joy. 

Sister, I hope you’re not in a place of discouragement in your service, but if you are, please know I’m praying for you today that you’ll lean into the grace and hope that Christ offers freely and find delight in Him. I pray that you find and cling the fullness of joy of your salvation found in Christ in the midst of your struggles. And finally, I pray that you’ll feel comforted knowing that you have a group of sisters that stand with you and are eager to rejoice with you too.

Melissa Flanagan | Huntsville, AL