2020 - The Year of Joy

It’s going to be long.

I’ve never really done the word of the year thing. Each year I’d see others post their word of the year and I’d think that’s cool I’d should do that. I’d think about it but every time I’d think maybe this word or that word I’d see someone else post it was there word for the year. Surely I couldn’t take someone else’s word. I mean, words are words and they don’t really belong to anyone, but still he or she had just said it was theirs. I couldn’t copy them, right?

2020 starts and people begin to post their word. I read their post, smiled at some and had tears for others. Each person had a special reason why they felt/knew that word for them this coming year.

I prayed.

I’d think of a word and prayed. Nothing seemed to “fit” me for this year. That is until Paul called me at work and said, “Honey, try to find some joy today”. I’d replied simply okay and you try too. (It’s easier to push it back to someone sometimes).

Everywhere I looked, Facebook, Instagram, texts from friends, and even phone (yes actually talking on the phone), the word joy would appear.

Could that be my word for the year? Joy.

2019 had certainly had its ups and its downs, but could I really make Joy my word. With all that is happening with my mom and Paul? It would be hard, right?

Then I prayed. And I listened. I was still.

Merriam-Webster defines Joy as “the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires…the expression or exhibition of such emotion…a state of happiness”

As the Lego song says, Everything is Awesome.

But the Word of God says this:

Joy is a gift of from God. (Galatians 5:22

No greater Joy than to know our children walk in the truth (3 John 1:4)

Sounds really great so far, this could make my entire year full of joy beyond all measure.

Then I read, James 12-3: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

Trails do not sound joyous, yet it’s right there in God’s word. That makes it so.

I read on. I prayed. I listened. And I was still.

Psalms 47:1 Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! I love this scripture but it was just during this time that I realized it didn’t say to clap your hands and shout to God if you have joy. But to shout to God with loud songs of joy.

In Nehemiah 8:10 we’re told to go and enjoy great food, sweet drinks, and to send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the Joy of the Lord is your strength.

A. B. Simpson said, “ It is His joy that remains in us that makes our joy full.”

2020 will surely bring joyous times and hardships. This is the season of life that my family is in right now. Although it will not always be easy, my word for this year is JOY. I will sing for joy. I will weep at times, yet still will count it all JOY. And I will learn this year how to rest in his JOY.