Fall is definitely here in Idaho. Cold crisp mornings, warm afternoons, leaves changing colors and dropping pine needles covering the yard, and the days getting shorter. We welcome cooler temperatures after a long hot summer, but I always hate to say goodbye to summer. Probably a carryover from my California childhood days of no school, fun at the beach, and lots of sunshine.
Don’t get me wrong. I love experiencing the four seasons, but each one brings things I enjoy and other things I could do without like mosquitoes in the summer, raking leaves in the fall, slippery ice in the winter . . . hmmm I can’t think of anything I don’t like about spring!
But we can only talk about the weather so long before conversations soon turn to the political season we’re in right now. The health season. The financial season. The age season. The family season. The cultural season. Our body countenance, tone of voice, facial expression, intensity of speech all changes and maybe even is laced with anger, disappointment, sadness, fear, apprehension . . . certainly not joy when we’re in a difficult or disappointing season.
Yet James 1:2 instructs us to choose joy no matter what our circumstances! Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. NLT
I don’t know about you but my first thought isn’t to be joyful when a troubling season comes my way. It feels awesome when I’m joyful, but it’s a hard place to go when things seem out of control in my life. But God reminds us not to depend on our old habits and ways of responding to a difficult season. With His help, we can retrain our mind and our responses. We don’t have to be discouraged and depressed once we learn the power of being joyful in all seasons. Not giddy or silly, but deep abiding joy that knowing the Lord resonates in our heart and soul regardless of outside forces.
The world is in a dark season right now but we can’t let that darkness invade our life. We’re not of the world. We’re supposed to bring light into the world in every season and situation. I’ll admit it takes some practice until we get used to letting God control our emotions/attitudes not our emotions/attitudes control us.
At Christmas, a season coming soon, we sing “Joy to the world, the Lord has come!” Jesus joy fills our life and should be the response we give when others ask why we’re so joy-filled. Jesus is our source of joy and Jesus is the reason we can smile, even through our tears. That’s our testimony. That’s our message.
That’s what we share with a hurting world, in season and out of season.
I recently heard a term “corporate joy,” which is exactly what I experience in church or our Couples Bible study or spending time with fellow believers. There’s a sense of joy in the Lord that the world can never steal from us as hard as they try to drag us down with them, we won’t be shaken.
I know someone needed to hear this word from the Lord today and I pray these verses bring you joy.
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Ps. 5:11
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Ps. 16:11
Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. 7 My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. Ps. 62:5-7 NLT
Personal note: For those who’ve been praying for my husband Dave’s knee replacement surgery, he’s doing quite well and just graduated from physical therapy. Our joy was tested when his surgery for the other knee scheduled for September 9th was canceled due to increasing Covid cases in the hospitals. That was disappointing, but we’re praying for God’s timing for a new surgery date.
I found joy in then being able to attend our church Women’s Retreat September 10th-12th, which is where I guess the Lord wanted me all along.
About His Work with you,
Janet
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PS: We’re running low on the CD/DVD packet in the Woman to Woman Mentoring DVD Leader Kits and won’t be reproducing more when they’re gone. So if you're thinking about getting a kit for your church, now would be the time.
We will still have the Minsitry Coordinator's Guides, Training Leader's Guides, Mentor and Mentee Handbooks available.
PSSSSS: Please share with us a story from your mentoring ministry to encourage other churches.
