The Depths of Joy
- Heather Williams
- Jun 22
- 2 min read
When life’s circumstances bring us down, well-intentioned folks say the corniest phrases— myself included. “Cheer up, buttercup, or “Turn that frown upside-down” are just a couple of the most common.
But, what if you can’t glimpse the light at the end of tunnel? Or looking around the corner causes trepidation?
Sometimes life requires a quiet perseverance that only comes from knowing that “the joy of the Lord is my strength. “
Spring of 2018 was the beginning of one of the hardest years as a wife, young mother, and daughter. My grandmother- a prayer warrior, went home to Jesus. Simultaneously, my mother experienced a mental breakdown with three causes. First, the responsibility of executing the will and negative comments from her siblings’ families. Second, wrongly prescribed psychiatric medication based upon family medical history. Third, an undiagnosed tick bite resulting in a too late diagnosis of Lyme Disease. In respect of my mother’s dignity, I will not describe what she went through in details. Suffice to say— she was not the mother or grandmother we had known prior.
However, the battle belonged to the Lord. During that year, I prayed verses over my mother’s mind. Jesus restored my mother’s faith, healed her mind, and purged her body of the wrong medication! [God did!]
During this long, looooonnnng year, as the oldest daughter and a mother of littles, I knew I needed to “just keep swimming..,” and stay strong. On the outside, I put on my brave face.
Yet, I was not ok.
I was trying to grieve my grandma & feeling lost in motherhood of 3 children under age 6 without my mom. At the time, our family was living in a borrowed single-wide with soft floors that haunt me. Looking back, I see the hand of God in how He provided a temporary home, support through local MOPS (now MomCo), and encouragement through the Body of Christ.
I learned that the joy of the Lord isn’t the same as being happy.
Happiness is like looking at life through rose-colored glasses— it’s temporal, fleeting. The vision changes as soon as the lenses are removed. Happiness is that hole-in-one on the mini-golf course. It’s getting the last cookie from Grandma’s cookie jar! It’s the happy dance!!! [Are you ready to “floss”or do “the Grady”].
Joy has deeper roots! Its source is eternally found in Yeshua.
“I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing.”
John 15:11 AMP
Joy isn’t something humans can manufacture. Artificial Learning Bots cannot imitate, initiate or inspire joy. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22). It is evidence of a relationship with our Savior and King Jesus. Joy doesn’t ebb and flow like the tide. Joy stays even when circumstances get ugly. It is consistently and abundantly available for those who ask for and willingly receive it.
May you experience true joy today!
—heather joy aka ThePonderingPosie
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