“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” Henri Nouwen

{photo thanks to kindred artist Sarah @stimmerman85  who shared her beautiful #spiritualwhitespace moment painting the little girl in her on a swing on Instagram.
my images are free goodies for you to savor, pin & share} 

Choosing joy takes courage.

Because choosing joy is really about choosing to believe we are worth it.  That we can choose joy — not because we deserve it.  Not because we’ve earned it.  Purely, radically, only because God says joy is our birthright — as His beloved.

I don’t know about you, but it takes tremendous courage for me to believe that I can choose joy, simply because God wants me to experience it. Taking time to choose joy isn’t selfish.  Choosing joy is soul rest — because joy restores us to our true identity: we are God’s beloved.

Although I’ve believed this truth in my mind, I’ve often struggled to feel joy as an everyday experience in my heart.  I didn’t want people to misjudge me for lack of faith or ungratefulness, so I didn’t tell anyone how I really felt.  I settled for a life of “contentment” rather than joy.  I mistook “contentment” to meant I didn’t need joy.  I thought to be faithful meant I no longer needed to feel joy.

I no longer believe that.  I’m learning to recognize the voice of Jesus when I feel a hunger for joy. I hear Him whispering many invitations for me to awaken — to become His beloved.  

I’m learning that in order to experience joy, God’s given me the choice — to choose joy.

God’s given me a heart and a body to make choices that align with what I believe — not what others want me to be.

I am now learning to listen only to Him and not my critical self or other critical voices that tell me choosing joy is selfish or a time-waster.

I’m choosing to take time to enjoy Spiritual Whitespace. I’m choosing joy.

Choosing joy takes courage.  Today, I’d like to encourage you to take time to choose joy.

[SHARE] Pull a chair. Click to comment. Who can you share today’s encouragement with? 

[THE DAILY WORD CROISSANT]

“Do not despise these small beginnings. ..
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; You are mine..”
Zech4:10, Is43:1

[TRY THIS]

 Download this month’s printable Shots of Spiritual Whitespace: 31 Cups of Rest (March).

Frame it, stick it on your fridge, pin it, place it where you can see it.  How many moments of joy can you enjoy this month?

share photos of your joy moments on Instagram/Twitter #SpringChallenge #SpiritualWhitespace

The Pink Outfit

I’d like to encourage you to choose joy by telling  you a story.

Because if you’re like me, you may not even know where to start.  Maybe like me, you’ll need to go on an exploration, in order to discover what brings you joy. Maybe like me, you’ve never given yourself permission to try new things — because no one has given you permission — to experience joy.

Here below is an excerpt from my book Finding Spiritual Whitespace , for a glimpse into the journey to find joy and rest.

… It’s easy when you’re young to believe dreams can come true. But if you’ve ever truly had a perfect moment carry you to a place of belief -—whether it be a positive pregnancy test, a romance, friendship, a parent, your health, a career, or a life-long dream —- and then had it taken away, then you know what it feels like to see something perfect end up in the refuse of broken dreams and mismatched opportunities.

You begin to wonder whether anything is worth delighting in again. Is anything really worth enjoying if it can’t last anyway?

The Side of the Road

Rest and joy can feel dangerous. For some of us, joy is connected to times where it was ruined, when a simple moment of happiness was decimated by a person, place, or thing.

That is what happened to my pink outfit.  Something perfect and beautiful became ruined, thrown in the garbage.

We stop so easily for others.  Will we stop on the side of our busy lives and let Jesus love us?  Jesus is calling us to make room for Spiritual Whitespace -– to nourish our souls with joy and rest.

That Pink Outfit

Your story will read different from mine.  But, we all have old pink outfits -— joy that has been lost.

God can help us recover the courage to reach for a new pink outfit — by resting today.  Each time we choose joy, we take the step of faith to say, “This is mine. My Father in heaven knows what I like.  And I’m learning to discover what it is, too.”

Choosing joy restores our true identity: we have always been — and will always be — the beloved. God’s beloved.  

Jesus is kind and gentle, whispering in different ways—

You are loved. 
You are cherished.  
Choose joy.

~~~~~

How is God prompting you to choose joy?  

Pull up a chair. Click to share a comment. 

{this post is part of the #SpiritualWhitespace Book Club. get a copy of my book Finding Spiritual Whitespace & join in. Click here to learn more.}

Beloved Brews Link Up

Welcome to our Beloved Brews weekly link-up! You’re a kindred, so I’m asking you to pour out a little love with your words every Thursday {publish any day. just link-up on Thursdays}. Simply write a blog post from your heart about what God’s sharing with you and then share it here. Don’t have a blog? You can write a comment. If you’re reading this by email, go to thebonniegray.com to read the comments & share your voice too.

Optional Writing prompt:  {write a blog post from your heart about what God’s sharing with you} or {write a letter to your younger self. think of yourself at an earlier time in life. what would you say to her now about choosing joy?}

Please use the Beloved Brews button in your blog post so others can easily join in with us {use this html code here}. And when you link up your post, take a moment to leave an encouraging comment on the one that’s linked up just before yours. Thank you!

Serve up your Beloved Brew
Whole-hearted Writing. You & Jesus.