It’s a pleasure to have devotional thoughts from Pamela Polanco this week! If you’d like to learn more about her, just stop by the contributors page.
I recently found myself sitting at the beach, surrounded by beautiful, clean sand. This particular place is one of our family’s favorites (mostly because it is usually vacant). The water gleamed beautifully; in my heart, I knew the place was breathtaking, yet I could not appreciate the sight before me because my thoughts were consumed by worry.
At some point, I looked up and noticed a little boy a few spots away. It seemed he had walked to the beach alone (a common occurrence in our area). He went from family to family, playing with their kids, his sincere smile never fading.
Eventually, he secluded himself from those around him and sat on the sand near me. He was holding some seaweed, a small stick, and some tarnished leaves. He started crafting something, his hands skillfully working with the odd items. Since I couldn’t discern what he was making, my curiosity grew.
As I closely observed him, our eyes met, and he beamed a bright smile. Unable to resist, I asked what he was doing. Instead of answering, he proudly displayed the little flag he had fashioned from a leaf and stick – a simple banner on display.
His contentment took me by surprise, serving as a timely reminder that circumstances don’t determine our joy —joy is a choice. Despite having seemingly unworthy things to play with, this young boy found joy in a leaf and stick. While others played with their parents, he played alone, yet he radiated inner happiness.
The bright smile on the little boy’s face became a life lesson for me. At that moment, I reminded myself to settle on joy, understanding that gloomy seasons are a temporary occurrence of life.
So, my friend, if you, like me, are absorbed by worry and struggling to rejoice, I encourage you to choose joy. For us, as believers, it means finding joy in God instead of dwelling on things beyond our control. We must us look for it in Christ —finding comfort and strength in our faith, recognizing that our joy ultimately rests in Him.
While it may sometimes feel challenging, rejoicing is entirely within our power. The Apostle emphasized this imperatively when he said, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).
Consider that this encouragement to live in joy was written by the Apostle Paul from prison. Despite the lack of apparent reasons for rejoicing, Paul found solace in an incredible God. It serves as a powerful reminder that, yes, we can rejoice amid trouble —Even in the lowest season of life. In God, it is possible to be fully joyful.
So, my friend, as I reminded myself, “Choose joy. Gloomy seasons don’t last forever.”
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