Thanksgiving

I am so excited that tomorrow is Thanksgiving. On some level I want to same simply that I am thankful to be alive and have my sanity because this fall has been so hard. However, I couldn’t imagine that being the summation of my existence for the last few months. In fact this very morning I was reading a book that put to very words what I have been feeling.

Joy under attack. I have a ton to be thankful for this year. I found a job at a church after searching after searching for over a year, Steph and I now have a church home after a year long search, my youngest brother has begun a beautiful wedding, and God continues to put amazing people in my life. My relationship with Stephanie has grown even when I didn’t know it was possible to get closer. Yet I have found my attention has been drawn away from these and other blessing God has provided.

C.S. Lewis described his relationship with God as being surprised by Joy. I have let my existence drift so far from this concept of a walk with God as Joy. Forgetting that as a believer I am equipped to live a Joy-filled life no matter the circumstances. This Thanksgiving I am reminded that their is a thief who is out to steal, kill, and destroy. I always thought of his target as my physical life or connection with God. I believe that this enemy is out to get our joy. Take away the joy and we are not the people God has redeemed us to be, we cannot be the community of believers declaring God’s healing to the world.

So this Thanksgiving I am embracing Joy.