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Joy is a quiet companion on the unnoticed corners of our lives, just waiting to be discovered in the simplicity of everyday moments.
It doesn't need grand gestures or public declarations to be felt. It thrives in the subtle, personal experiences that bring a smile to our faces.
Whether it's the warmth of a perfectly brewed cup of coffee, the unexpected delight of finding a $20 bill in your pocket, the quirky antics of a beloved pet, or the shared laughter over an inside joke, joy is woven into the ordinary fabric of our days, hiding in plain sight.
So we know joy doesn't wait for ideal conditions and it's not dependent on everything going right. Its prerequisite is actually just open eyes.
Jesus’ mom Mary understood this. Her declaration of joy we read about in Luke 1 didn't come from a place of comfort or clarity. It came in the middle of bewildering, uncertain, world-flipping circumstances.
My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name.
She didn't have answers. She had faith. And somehow, joy found room to grow there.
Mary's joy wasn't naive or performative. It was defiant. A young, unwed, pregnant girl in an honor-shame culture declaring that her soul glorifies and her spirit rejoices — not because her circumstances made sense, but because she trusted the One who held them all together.
That's the thing about joy!! it's remarkably resilient. It can exist in a hospital waiting room or when there’s no vacancy at the inn and you’re almost due. On an ordinary Tuesday afternoon. In seasons of grief and seasons of plenty. It doesn't demand perfection; it just is.
Joy is always available, ready to be embraced, if only we choose to see it, recognize it, and welcome it into our lives. It's less about chasing something extraordinary and more about paying attention to what's already here.
Written also by someone on prozac ❤ you can trust me
this week's practice: write down 3 small joys that would bore literally everyone else. protect them. they're yours.
honest prayer: God, help me notice joy in the ordinary places. Teach me that happiness might be loud but joy knows how to whisper. thank you for the small things i almost missed today. Please give me more days full of wisdom and joy in You. In Your Son’s name I pray, amen.
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