More Bubbles Please
Joy: more than a need. It's a necessity!
In the field of sports, during the off-season, a team will often play an exhibition game. The purpose is to demonstrate to spectators the various talents and skills of the team and hopefully be impressive enough to draw in new spectators. In the field of grandparenting, a similar thing happens. Grand-kids put on what seems to the average bystander as an insignificant and often silly exhibition. But, to the grandparent, it's a "grand" display of everything unique and wonderful!
One of those many exhibitions happened when my wife and I were invited to see "Olympic" level talent (wink wink) at our granddaughter's gymnastics class. It was a typical class filled with the usual challenges for a four-year-old—balancing, tumbling, and learning new moves on a very narrow beam. I could see the children working hard, trying to remember the instructions, and push their little bodies to perform. Muscles were growing tired, some mistakes were made, and you could sense that, at times, the tension was building up.
As the class neared the end, the coach pulled out a surprise—a bubble machine! Yes, after all the hard work and focus, the last event of their 40-minute routine was a simple but magical one: the children all covered in bubbles, jumped, danced, and laughed, letting all the tension, mistakes, and fatigue float away and eventually dissolve with each bubble.
It was a fantastic transformation. Suddenly, joy filled the room. All the challenging moments of the class were forgotten, and the children were completely immersed in fun and delight. I thought to myself, we could all use more bubbles.
The Need for Joy in a Pressured World
Isn't life often like that gymnastics class? We go through our routines, balancing life's pressures, trying to navigate through mistakes, and pushing ourselves to meet various expectations. We tire out physically and mentally, and sometimes, the weight of it all feels heavy.
Today's world, with its constant stream of demands—work, relationships, health, finances, and often, more than anything, the pressures we put on ourselves—can feel overwhelming! We try to stay strong, but just like those little gymnasts, we reach a point where we're stretched thin. Wouldn't it be wonderful if, after all our hard work, someone would suddenly release bubbles of joy to lighten our hearts and remind us to smile? There's good news!
That kind of joy is available to us, and we don't have to wait for a bubble machine or a special occasion to experience it.
The Source of True Joy
Nehemiah 8:10 says, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." This verse offers a powerful truth—joy isn't just something fleeting or based on external circumstances. It's not simply found in moments of laughter or fun.
Instead, the joy of the Lord is a deep, sustaining force. It's the kind of joy that doesn't come and go with the ups and downs of life but remains, giving us the strength to face challenges with grace and peace.
Think about the word strength for a moment. In this context, strength isn't just the ability to lift something heavy once. It's about elongated power—power sustained over a period of time. It's like a strong, steady stream that keeps flowing, no matter how many obstacles it faces.
That's the joy of the Lord. It's not temporary relief or a fleeting burst of happiness. It's a constant source of power that sustains us through life's trials, mistakes, and fatigue.
How Do We Find and Keep This Joy?
So, how do we get this joy? How do we hold onto it when life gets heavy and we're weary from our routine?
Shift Your Focus
Just as the gymnasts shifted their focus from the class's hard work to the bubbles, we can shift our focus to the joy God offers. It's easy to get weighed down when we dwell on our struggles or mistakes. But when we choose to focus on God's promises, His love, and His goodness, we open ourselves to His joy. Philippians 4:8 tells us to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. We don't have to search for joy when we shift our focus and think about the correct things. Joy finds us!Find God's Presence
Joy comes from being in God's presence. Psalm 16:11 says, "In your presence, there is fullness of joy." When we spend time in prayer, worship, or simply being aware of God's nearness, we experience a joy that goes beyond our circumstances. It's a joy that brings peace and assurance, knowing that a loving Father holds us and is in total control. We don't just visit His presence and take away some joy. We can live where joy is made, in the joy factory!Choose Gratitude
Gratitude is a powerful way to experience joy. When we choose to be thankful, even in difficult times, we open ourselves to the joy that God provides. Gratitude shifts our perspective, helping us see God's blessings even when we are face down on the tumbling mat of life. You don't have to like the fall; just be thankful for the softness of the mat. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we're reminded to "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
More Bubbles of Joy
Just as the coach recognized that four-year-olds need joy after their hard work, God knows we need joy in our lives, too. He doesn't just offer us a few bubbles; He brings out the bubble machine and offers us a continual stream of joy that can sustain us through any challenge.
So, the next time life feels heavy and you find yourself tired from the routine, remember that God is there, ready to surround you with joy. His joy is your strength, and it's available to you now.