Renoir, Woman Playing Guitar
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and 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.”
~Nehemiah 8:10
This has been quite a season.
Fires, floods, heat waves and other storms wrack our country. It’s amazing the perspective we gain when such gigantic, uncontrollable things happen; reminding us that our problems are not quite as large as they perhaps looked.
Others fight health battles that are never-ending and seem larger than even the natural disasters on TV.
So what does it mean? How do we respond?
With so much sadness and so many daily burdens to shoulder, how do Christian women maneuver steadily through this journey of life with joy and peace of heart intact? What does it look like to be a woman filled with joy, every day, all the time, no matter what? In the deluge of all the stresses and disappointments in a fallen world, how does a mature Christian woman really walk in the power of the Holy Spirit? How does she face each situation with gladness, despite the relentless and demanding day-after-day, month-after-month, year-after-year things that would rob her of emotional and creative energy, such as chores, bills, arguments, messes? Or how does she maintain joy in the center of more devastating troubles: a divorce, the tragic death of a loved-one, a child who has a chronic illness or disability, rejection by family members, alcoholism and drug-related scars, a job layoff?
Then the Lord reminded me: I need to dance.
He wants me to dance inside my heart, no matter what is going on outside in my circumstances. To dance is to celebrate life, to make merry, to physically live out the reality of internal joy. Those who walk closely with the Lord have a secret inner joy, a dancing energy just from knowing Him. It is in having Him as my partner, in letting Him take the lead, that I will be directed around the “dance floor” of my life. He is the One who will show me the steps, how to listen to the music, how to engage my heart with him and to stay in sync with Him, the real Source of the music, the dance, and the everlasting joy.
We live here on earth, a place broken by sin. Our lives are deeply affected by that, and there’s no way around it but hand in hand with the Lord, searching for His beauty and bringing what we can of it into the midst of our days. And so today, once again, I choose to dance, to sing, to make music in my heart for Him. Because He holds it all in His hands–including me.
Wonderful post this morning, Sally. What a fantastic reminder of His ever present spirit and our joy placed in our lives by Him. I struggle with it when I am tending the needs of my littles but I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be with them and so very blessed to know that God has given me joy. I do have to uncover it though sometimes
Thanks Sally. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed by the issues in my life–$$, job for my husband, help for school struggles for my son, health/stress issues, living with all family members having adhd, worries…I’ll keep that verse near me today. Thanks.
What a wonderful, JOYFUL, post!! THANK YOU!
Thank you, Sally!
I appreciate your encouragement to “dance inside my heart” no matter what the circumstances. Trusting God means you can rely on Him, no matter what. I think that it’s OK to cry on the outside when we are grieving with those who grieve, such as the families that have lost homes in our local wildfire. But, if we stop there we cannot show the love and the hope the Christ has to offer. I’m going to take some time today to play my violin and remember to rejoice in God’s presence and peace. Our world is broken, but He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Needed this reminder…I used to dance before the Lord all the time, in private. Things have been tough and I have forgotten to let Him lead the dance. While He sings over me.
Thanks
Thank you….I so needed to be reminded of this – I need to dance (and let the Lord lead)!!!
So beautiful Sally! It reminded me of this clip of worship….and what the pastor says in the middle of the song ( around 6.40). You might like it. =) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQzlJ-GexVk
Dear Sally,
thank you for your gift of soothing words of
time to have joy while we sit on His lap…
grieving in Hope,
Helen
PS. oh the ripple affect of pain from youth’s unwise choices-God still redeems inspite of us