Do you find joy in your children’s smiles?
Do you feel joy in those moments of triumph and glory?
Oh, to embrace the joys of motherhood and all of life’s blessings!
Ah yes…
Joy in friendships and joy in marriage promises. Joy in sunny days and joy in provisions given. Joy in unexpected delightful surprises. Joy in babies born. Joy on Christmas Morning. Joy in snuggle time. Joy in laughter. Joy in family. Joy abounds and surrounds all that is worthy of light and love. Joy in fulfillment and purpose. Oh, how that kind of joy is life’s greatest treasure!
But wait.
There’s a different joy deep within us. It’s Unconditional. It doesn’t ebb and flow with the tides of this world. It isn’t placed in our happiness. It’s placed in our hearts before He even formed us in our mother’s womb.
Look deeper…
Deeper still.
Keep going… further down the dark channels of your soul.
It may be buried beneath life’s distractions and barriers. It may be covered with layers of pain and disappointments and mistrust.
But it dwells within each of us.
You must be quiet. Still. Open to it. It’s beyond this world. It’s beyond our fragile human condition.
Your Loving Creator. The Almighty Powerful Omnipotent Lord of the universe. The Divine King who is sovereign over every particle and piece of this world and the next. The Maker of Time and Space in heaven and earth.
He breathes it into you.
Inhale. Deep.
Go deeper.
Are you aware of His Undying Love? His Holy Spirit births this merciful flame. You are His child.
True Joy.
Peel back the layers within. Search the corners of your heart. His illuminating Light dwells within you.
Do you feel it?
It’s okay if you don’t. Sometimes I don’t either…
But it’s there.
It’s always there.
Deep beneath the days and moments of our lives.
There is no greater joy than this, my friends.
Divine Joy in knowing Our Heavenly Father loves YOU.
Broken and beautiful you…
This post is part of our eight-week series, “Spirited Mom: A Fruity Look at Mothering.” We’re focusing on a different Fruit of the Spirit each week, as it applies to mothering.
Don’t want to miss any of our juicy posts? Subscribe for FREE by email!
Before having children, Chris Carter worked as a music therapist for several years in Chicago’s inpatient psychiatric hospitals. She also managed creative arts and recreation programming for four group homes. In that time of her life, she learned and grew to know the pain and suffering of so many people. She is now a stay-at-home mom and currently spends her days running kids to and from school four times a day, volunteering and keeping the house in some sort of order! She has a thriving blog, The Mom Cafe, where she regularly shares her mothering experience and wisdom.
Even the joy that feels external, where is it coming from? It’s that place, and it originates in Him. My girls bring me unbelievable joy, and I thank God every day he put them in my life. I’m borrowing three angels from him.
You have to take the time and listen to appreciate that.
I love when you write on spirituality. I learn, and relate, every single time.
Eli@coachdaddy recently posted..5 For Friday: Go Ask Daddy About Bald Cheerleaders, Grocery Store Sarcasm and White Rappers
Broken and beautiful me! Love this and am grateful my daughter picked this moment to read over my shoulder. She has good taste! Thank you for these words and for reminding me of the love you described so beautifully. xo
Mary @ A Teachable Mom recently posted..Nine Clues that I’m Angry (Or Will Be Soon)
Oh how fantastic that your sweet daughter got to take in the knowledge that GOD is her True JOY! YAY! Broken and beautiful WE, my friend. Ah yes. Broken and beautiful. Just as we are. I am so grateful for His Grace…every. single. day. 🙂
Chris Carter recently posted..True Joy…
It’s so hard to just be still and find it, but I know it’s there. Sometimes buried under a lot. But there.
Alexa (Kat Biggie) recently posted..TTTS Tuesday – 5 Key Facts about TTTS
I thought of you honey… funny how you are so often on my heart. Peeling back the layers of grief and change and adapting… He’s right there shining all His Glory in YOU. When you go deep… I’m sure you find darkness, and yet- His Flicker of Light still prevails through it. His Love for His Child, You. AND your child- Precious baby that is with Him… He loves her more than you. Hard to comprehend, but I just read in my women’s group a chapter in Lysa TerKeurst’s book tonight about this very thing- It was powerful. I am going to send it to you somehow- it made me think of YOU.
Chris Carter recently posted..True Joy…
Mark 10:13-16 ESV
And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
This is why your son (and my children) always remind us of His Love…
Chris Carter recently posted..True Joy…
YES! What an awesome revelation of true Joy. Sometimes we miss it because we don’t look deep enough, but it’s there. And when we find it, we find strength. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Great post Chris
Hope recently posted..Running in the wrong shoes…
Thanks Hope! I love how you put that… it truly is a “revelation” in every sense of the word!! Oh, I pray many will be still enough to search for it.
Love this post. Even thought I wrote for 31 days straight on the topic of joy, I never get tired of the topic. I love this fresh perspective. Thank you.
HappyMomSusan recently posted..Joy is a choice we make
31 Days? WOW Susan! That sounds amazing!!! Would you be so kind to share where you wrote about joy for that long? I would love read every word!! 🙂 This seems like a perfect venue to add your Godly perspective as well.
Chris Carter recently posted..True Joy…
I completely heart this. Because happiness, true organic happiness, is never dependent upon external circumstances. Ever. And you articulate and elaborate on this so very well.
Ilene recently posted..Ordinary World
Thanks so much Ilene!! Oh, how we live fighting this very urge to depend on outside sources for our true joy, and some never find the victory within. It breaks my heart to see so many constantly search for joy beyond themselves…
Chris Carter recently posted..True Joy…
Love the topic of joy. I have to work on that being quiet, still and open thing every now and then. Thanks for the reminder!
another jennifer recently posted..Philanthropy Friday: Harnessing the Power of Social Good Moms
You know what I found? That the more you quiet yourself, the more you learn. My greatest prayers, ideas, inspirations have been birthed when I sit in silence and dig down deep. It’s profound really…
Chris Carter recently posted..True Joy…
His love does bring me a lot of joy. It brings a sense of peace knowing that I’m loved for who I am. Good post.
Crystal Green recently posted..PediaOne Drink Review and Giveaway
Exactly Crystal! You are loved for who you are… that is enough. There is great peace in that truth!
Chris Carter recently posted..Devotional Diaires: “Well Done, My Good And Faithful Servant” Mathew 25:21
Great post. Joy comes in knowing that God loves us, that Christ died for us…and that He loves us no matter what!
Julie Moore recently posted..Simple Summer Salad (Soy, Wheat, Fish and Egg-Free, Can Be Milk and Nut-Free)
I just love how you put that Julie!! It seems like it’s wrapped up in beautiful words and looks so neat and easy… but I often brush over that truth and smile. It’s when I truly seek and search and surrender to Him, do I believe and live that kind of joy!
Chris Carter recently posted..True Joy…
I agree! It is not an easy thing for us to do…that’s why we need Him. He never intended for us to just go it alone and try and do it ourselves. He intended for us to say, “HELP! I can’t!” so He can step in say, “I know, but I can!” We cannot have true joy without the source of joy…it is only skin deep without Him.
Julie Moore recently posted..Simple Summer Salad (Soy, Wheat, Fish and Egg-Free, Can Be Milk and Nut-Free)
AMEN SISTER!!!!!! Oh how I love your faith!! 🙂
Chris Carter recently posted..Devotional Diaires: “Well Done, My Good And Faithful Servant” Mathew 25:21
Thanks, Chris! I haven’t arrived, but I do work on it daily…It’s the only way to go!
Julie Moore recently posted..Simple Summer Salad (Soy, Wheat, Fish and Egg-Free, Can Be Milk and Nut-Free)
another beautifully written masterpiece! Love the message here! Why do we search so intensely for that easier-to-find, but shorter-lived joy???? There IS NO greater joy!!
Marcia recently posted..Getting Back on Track
It’s a constant struggle for me… this I know to be true! Depending on outside resources to fulfill us seems to be a habit in many- Oh how we can never trust that though. All those layers ebb and flow but His Love never changes. It’s always buried deep within… piercing brilliant light.
Chris Carter recently posted..True Joy…
Love when we get 2 of our favorites in one spot! 🙂 Great post…am thinking a lot this summer about joy!-Ashley
Aw…you are so so sweet Ashley!! What a great thing to spend time thinking about… absolutely worth it!! Praying for you to simply bask in His Love… and embrace True Joy. (Big heart here!)
Chris Carter recently posted..True Joy…
Very beautiful and very powerful. Thank you. I think my kids help me a lot to see the wonder of it all, but it’s so nice to have something omnipresent and unconditional within us all.
There is such a great joy we find as mothers- and that is quite delicious to swallow, ain’t it? 🙂
Ah but the Love of God has no measure. “Omnipresent and unconditional within us all.”
LOVE.
Chris Carter recently posted..Devotional Diaires: “Well Done, My Good And Faithful Servant” Mathew 25:21
great post babe and thought provoking. I do find joy in my son and his love of life. I do sometimes forget that I am loved by God and he is always there protecting and guiding me. Thankfully my blessed son reminds me of this in many ways…whether by saying God is bigger than anything when he scared or when he does kind, honest, and caring things for others.
karen recently posted..SUMMER: LISTICLES STYLE