“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” Habakkuk 3:17-18 NLT

Find Joy

The Lord gives me a word around the beginning of each year, something He wants to teach me or remind me of. This year it’s joy; more specifically, He wants me to find joy. To say that 2020 felt like a very barren year is an understatement. It was a year of avoidance and neglect. I avoided the Lord, I read my Bible off and on, talked to Him and occasionally listened, but not the deep and intimate time I’m used to having with Him, sitting at His feet, simply listening and leaning into the sweet, intense love He has for me.

I neglected every area of myself, and self-care was pretty non-existent. I’ve worked from home since last March, so I didn’t need to get dressed, change clothes or even brush my teeth or hair most days. I fell into the darkness of despair slowly. It wasn’t a sudden thing, so I wasn’t really even aware. The Lord had given me hints and nudges, and there were things going on physically that were irritating, but they didn’t wake me up. My relationships were suffering…but if I didn’t have enough energy to take care of myself, how was I supposed to take care of others?

When God gave me the word joy, I didn’t jump up and down and thank Him—it was more of a shrug and asking, “How do you want me to do that?” I know how, have known all along how, and I chose not to, but He is so full of grace and mercy. I started listening to the Fruit of the Spirit teaching series from LCC’s Men at the Cross, and the first three of them each had some version of John 15:4-8 in them. In the NKJV, the word abide shows up seven times in these five verses—three times in verse 4 alone.

How am I to find joy this year? I am to abide in Him. Verse 5 says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” Now it is halfway through 2021, and I’ve lost a loved one and am dealing with physical issues with two other loved ones.

I’m honestly incapable of finding joy on my own, but I have His Spirit (Galatians 5:22), and I know as God calls me to abide in Him, He will help me find joy regardless of the circumstances.

Father God, thank You for Your grace and mercy. Thank You that even though…(fill in the blank)…we can still find joy in You. Amen.