Before modern medicine, who would've ever heard of giving birth without the labor pain? How unprecedented! One might call it impossible. We are reminded in this verse that God delivers on promises, no matter how impossible it seems. The Lord's plan is the spiritual birth of a nation, the Kingdom of God. We're challenged and commanded to
celebrate
the fulfillment of God's promises. Expressing joy and thankfulness for what is yet to come requires us to have faith -- to trust. It's what we do every weekend in worship, but what about finding and expressing joy every day, in the chaos of our lives?
Take Five and Pray:
With work, television, smart phones, kids, there is so little silence in our lives that we actually crave silence, even if we don't realize it. Silence helps us to find peace by gathering our thoughts, praying, and simply breathing. Prayer nourishes our spiritual lives. God is the source of all joy. If we are too busy to pray, we are too busy. Start with just five minutes of silence and prayer. Breathe. Listen.
Look Up and Be Grateful:
Living in the moment allows you to be grateful for small things. With our heads down in work and tech, we miss a lot more than we realize. How many times do you reflect on your week and discover that you missed a God moment, or that you couldn't remember witnessing the hand of God at all? If you're looking for them, you'll see that God moments happen all the time. There are things all around us to be grateful for, such as the outdoors and loved ones. Consider families served by our emergency food and clothing pantry, specifically children and infants who are in need of so much, while most of us have food, clothing and shelter
in excess
. Think of families in Haiti, while we have clean water, our children have access to education, and we have access to healthcare.
Just Say No:
If you're filling up all the spaces on your calendar, then not only is your schedule about to burst -- so are you. If you are carving into sleeping hours to get everything done, then something must give. Don't sacrifice your physical, spiritual or mental health for one more item on your calendar or wasted hours in front of the television. Saying no to non-urgent, low-priority activities will help you to notice and enjoy spontaneous moments.
Say Hello, Friend:
We are created for relationship - with God and with each other. I'm not talking about social media. I'm talking about good old-fashioned, in-person connections with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Our connections with each other strengthen our connection with God. There is joy in sharing the peace, and there is joy in connecting in a meaningful way through shared studies, fellowship and service to others.
