I am content.
Never in my life have I been so happy and at peace and full of what I’ll call “easy” joy. Being a stay-at-home wife and (now) mom has been far more exciting and beautiful than I thought it would. I’m used to anxiety and an ever-underlying depression. I’m not used to such constant happiness.
And Satan knows that.
So amid my little euphoric moments I’ve found myself listening to a worrisome voice in my head:
“Don’t enjoy this too much; it could all end.”
“What if your baby dies? What if your husband dies?”
“Just think how much you’ll hurt if this all goes away.”
It’s the voice that tries to rob my joy by threatening it. Essentially, though, it is mocking the goodness of God by insinuating that the joy He gives us can be taken away.
People can be taken away, relationships can end, possessions can be broken or stolen, circumstances can sour–but God doesn’t change.
God puts seasons in our life the same way He allows changes in the weather. Sometimes there is fruit on the tree, sometimes there are dead leaves, and sometimes branches are broken off…but there will be fruit on the tree again.
Ultimately, if we’re in Christ we have it really well off: we get to experience spiritual and tangible joy on earth, plus the eternal joy which will be had in Heaven. In the grand scheme of things, our “bad times” here are very light. This is not to say that sometimes life doesn’t hurt–because it can. The death of a loved one or the end of a close relationship can rip through your heart like nothing else. But it won’t last forever. Your earthly joy will return, and your spiritual joy will continue.
So as I continue to snuggle my warm, fuzzy-headed baby I am also learning to be grateful for each day as it comes. Satan can mock my joy, but he can’t take it away. God has given me a beautiful family to love and I will love them, without fear.
Loving is a risk, but not loving is a waste.
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
– 1 John 4:16-18
jess leigh hanna 