Choose to Rejoice

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Choose to Rejoice http://www.biblicalwomanhood.com/article60.htm

by Crystal Paine

In

the two years I have been married, I have learned that my husband would

much rather have a cheerful, contented wife than a clean house. And

I'll wager your husband is the same. As wives and mothers, we set the

tone in our home. Whether we like it or not, our attitude affects every

other person in our home either negatively or positively.

This

morning in my Bible reading, I read a favorite passage of mine:

"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the

vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield

no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be

no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in

the God of my salvation" (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

"Yet

I will rejoice in the LORD" - I can still rejoice when the gas tank is

on empty, the cupboards are bare, or the checking account is nearing a

deficit. I can still rejoice when I have been up most of the night with

a crying baby, my husband is ill, and I have a mountain of laundry to

do. Why? Because joy is not dependent upon circumstances but on Christ!

Two years ago, we moved to a

completely unfamiliar town so my husband could go to law school. We

left behind our wonderful families, friends, church, and stable income.

This lack of fellowship, friends, and spiritual encouragement, coupled

with the rigors of my husband's studies, a very tight budget, a

difficult pregnancy, and the new experience of motherhood has caused me

to often find myself feeling discouraged and overwhelmed. I could

easily sink in despair, but will that make things any better? Of course

not. Instead, I am seeking to rejoice knowing I am exactly where God

wants me to be. When I start feeling discouraged, I have found it is

best to seek an immediate remedy or I can quickly fall into hopeless

despair.

Here are some simple ways I have found to transform a heavy heart into a "merry heart:"

*Count Your Blessings. It is very easy to focus on what is "wrong" with

our surroundings when we should be thanking God for what is right with

them. No matter how difficult your circumstances, you can always find

something to be thankful for. One thing that has helped me is to keep a

journal and record five blessings for each day. Once you try and come

up with five, you will find you have trouble stopping!

*Sing. This is one of the best remedies for "the blues." Any uplifting

song will do, but for me, the richness and depth of many of the great

hymns is especially a balm to my spirit. Pull out a hymnal and just

start singing. Even when singing is the last thing I want to do, if I

make myself start humming a tune, before I know it, my worries seem to

vanish and my joy returns.

*Do

Something for Someone Else. When we take our focus off of ourselves and

put it onto someone else, this will immediately serve to erase

discouragement! Make a phone call to a needy friend, write a cheery

note to a shut-in, bake something for your neighbor, or think of a

special way you can bless your husband or someone in your family.

*Go Outside and Take a Walk. Breathe in the fresh air, stop and smell

the roses, and find enjoyment in life's simple pleasures. If God

Almighty can create the heavens and the earth out of nothing, can you

not trust Him to take care of whatever problems you are facing?

Crystal

Paine is a 24-year-old homeschool graduate from Topeka, Kansas. She is

the blessed wife of and joyful mother of ne. Visit her

site, Biblical Womanhood, for books, articles, encouragement, and inspiration!