Don’t Choose Joy

I was feeling discouraged the other day and almost posted this picture with a few words about how I was going to choose joy. 

As quickly as the thought came, I realized it wasn’t even one I agreed with. 

While life can bring circumstances, trials, or even days when choosing joy is helpful, it isn’t constructive if it just temporarily covers up our feelings like a band-aid.

I don’t know about you, but when I don’t let myself sit with my emotions, good and bad, and instead I choose to push through, I end up habitually going through life just putting one foot in front of the other. 

This gets the job done for a while, but a continuous season of this starts to make me feel less like me, blurring the image I have of myself, and worse, God. I become even more overwhelmed. 

So how do I sit with my emotions and rejoice at the same time? I lean in instead of letting go. 

Sometimes this means seeing a counselor. 

Sometimes this means talking to a friend. 

Sometimes this means forgiving someone when they haven’t asked for it. 

Sometimes this means staying right where I am.

Sometimes this means taking a step forward.

Sometimes this means speaking up.

Sometimes this means listening. 

Sometimes this means journaling. 

Sometimes this means more rest.

Sometimes this means more prayer.

Knowing no matter what path I use to lean in, that I am choosing to become a truer version of myself. 

It exposes my go to hiding places, and helps me identify things that have held me back.  

Instead of choosing joy, I choose to remember all of who God created me to be.