To Egg or Not

I tell you all there are sometimes I wish I drove around with a carton of eggs so I could throw them at rude drivers especially when you are trying to walk into the grocery store with your two daughters. I’d egg so many people driving by! But atlas in moments like that where my impatience and temper are running rampant in sheer delight I hear a little voice tap me on the shoulder and say “love them like Jesus did.” SIGH, like a BIG sigh.

I tell you this loving people business is TOUGH! It is most difficult when your morning starts out with a grouchy nine-year-old that has the mouth of the south with snarkiness and doesn’t listen let alone obey very well. AHHH! I dread puberty ya’ll, I will need prayer I am just sayin. So, by the end of the day I am capable of seriously egging some cars that don’t follow the traffic rules, drivers that are texting when driving, and rude drivers… This is Christianity being REAL….

Do you ever feel that way? You just want to throw eggs at some cars? Teach some people a lesson?

I’ve been in a rut lately where life (it could also be my hormonal state) has sucked out my joy. Do you know what I mean? Joy is that blissful feeling that delights your mind and soul with happiness. I envy people that walk around in complete joy (in a good way, I don’t want to take it from them, I just want some of it). The word “joy” appears in the bible 222 times from the Old Testament all the way into the New Testament; that must have a significant meaning that joy is important.

It is far too easy to let the troubles of life especially inconsiderate people take your joy and I hate that. I have heard preachers, teachers, evangelists, and life speakers say joy is a choice… eh… maybe… maybe not. I don’t know about you but I don’t always find it easy to control or master my emotions- I wish I did!

However, joy is one of those things I want to hold onto and cherish for as long as I can. Strength lies in our ability to be joyful in difficult situations and I want that type of strength. I find that in the occasions I am blessed to bask in “joy” I am more hopefully than without it. Joy leads me to a confidence that God sees me in my present state and loves me anyway, sending His steadfast love to cloak me which gives me courage to pursue righteousness (righteousness in my behavior and words, a chase that has been ever difficult these last few weeks).

In the book of Nehemiah – Nehemiah is faced with a daunting task of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, his crew of people were difficult to work with. It was a grim job that had been put off for many years. In Nehemiah 8 he tells the people that the joy of the Lord is their strength… God takes joy in us, He created us exclusively for Himself, and we bring Him joy, God’s joy in us is the strength that should keep us going and motivate us to do what is right… that means no egg throwing from me.

I hope you find joy this week but I especially hope you find your strength knowing God takes joy in you!

Good Evening Ladies…

Romans 15: ¹³ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.