How do you remain joyful?

[HeWillProvide]

I frequently read how we should be joyful, let us rejoice, and so forth.

How do you remain joyful amid life’s difficulties? What helps you?

 

[ConstantineTG]

Thinking that no matter the situation I am in, it is God’s will that I am there. And if it seems difficult at the moment, it will eventually turn out for the better, for myself and for everyone else.

 

[po18guy]

Two things occurred, I would have to say, in bringing me lasting joy: First was attending a Life in the Spirit seminar and being baptized in the Holy Spirit. My faith life simply burst into flame after that. I lost my fear of faith. Intercessory prayer before Christ in the Blessed Sacrament produced minor miracles. I was then a police officer and began ministering to the spiritually deprived with whom I came into contact. A 25 mile drive to the county jail gave me time to speak of the Gospel to them. I gave away a lot of New Testaments to those who were under arrest. But all of this was only to prepare me for what came next.

The blessing of cancer. Only the Lord could turn cancer into a blessing. Throughout my life, I had been a chronic complainer. Then, the Lord gave me something to complain about, and I pretty much stopped complaining. After that, each and every day was and is a gift and a blessing - as it had been before, but I had not acknowledged it. OK, but cancer a blessing? Yes! I cannot count the souls who have drawn nearer to God through prayer on my behalf - many of them right here at CAF. One young woman at work did not even know if she believed in God, but offered to pray for me. Until I got sick, she would not have prayed if I paid her to. I credit my survival, which itself is miraculous, to all of these prayers.

Consider this: When I was in chemotherapy, and just before I had to stop work, the last man I transported to jail blessed me as he was being lead away to a cell. Praise to You, Holy Spirit!

I pray more, I spend more time at adoration, read more scripture and pray more Rosaries. The more I give of myself, the more joy I naturally receive. I awaken by the Lords grace and offer a litany of prayers before my feet hit the floor. I am happy to be anywhere.

 

[onaquest]

On the body of Christ on the cross were all the effects of original sin. Not just our own personal sin but all suffering, disease, famine, natural disasters. All suffering. So if all died with Christ, than all was risen, resurrected with Christ and is glorified. My sufferings are glorified if I live in eternal time. That is where I find joy.

 

[GloriousOrder]

You remain joyful by sitting alone on a park bench or in an omnibus that’s half-full. As you allow the breeze to speed over you in the former, or the bus to speed through the city in the latter, you may observe. Looking out and watching humanity pass by is extremely beautiful. How can you lack a sense of joy when you see all the cars sailing past you on the highway like a grand fleet? You can almost feel the progression of history; the long crawl of God’s plan being unfolded, as it were. This is pure joy!

Merely being with a human being you trust completely and are loyal to until death is joy. When you look into your best friend’s eyes and see him smiling at you with the most earnest and honest smile in the world, you become joyful. You see our Lord Jesus Christ in each man’s smile, and even in each man’s frown! I think you simply need to connect with one human being, the manly nature of Jesus. When this is accomplished, all other human beings seem to shine with an aura.

Read the Gospels, and think of them quietly as you are walking through the city on a golden afternoon, the last winds of noon caressing your skin. How can you see the swaying nations of trees and the innocent kingdoms of animals flitting through the branches and public gardens, and not feel joy? Our Lord created this world with intensity, and joy can be found everywhere! Listen to Haydn’s major-key symphonies, sit down with your most intimate friend to talk about God… whatever! Life is glorious, and though we are in a great war, there are still bastions untouched by the scourge of Hell - preserved by God for our joy.

 

[simple_soul]

You remain joyful by sitting alone on a park bench or in an omnibus that’s half-full. As you allow the breeze to speed over you in the former, or the bus to speed through the city in the latter, you may observe. Looking out and watching humanity pass by is extremely beautiful. How can you lack a sense of joy when you see all the cars sailing past you on the highway like a grand fleet? You can almost feel the progression of history; the long crawl of God’s plan being unfolded, as it were. This is pure joy!

Merely being with a human being you trust completely and are loyal to until death is joy. When you look into your best friend’s eyes and see him smiling at you with the most earnest and honest smile in the world, you become joyful. You see our Lord Jesus Christ in each man’s smile, and even in each man’s frown! I think you simply need to connect with one human being, the manly nature of Jesus. When this is accomplished, all other human beings seem to shine with an aura.

Read the Gospels, and think of them quietly as you are walking through the city on a golden afternoon, the last winds of noon caressing your skin. How can you see the swaying nations of trees and the innocent kingdoms of animals flitting through the branches and public gardens, and not feel joy? Our Lord created this world with intensity, and joy can be found everywhere! Listen to Haydn’s major-key symphonies, sit down with your most intimate friend to talk about God… whatever! Life is glorious, and though we are in a great war, there are still bastions untouched by the scourge of Hell - preserved by God for our joy.

*Dear GloriouseOrder,

I just had to say that this post was beautiful!
I could just read the joy right off the words…
Thank you for sharing…

Simple soul*

 

[simple_soul]

On the body of Christ on the cross were all the effects of original sin. Not just our own personal sin but all suffering, disease, famine, natural disasters. All suffering. So if all died with Christ, than all was risen, resurrected with Christ and is glorified. My sufferings are glorified if I live in eternal time. That is where I find joy.

*Dear onaquest,
Your beautiful example of the Ultimate Joy. God Himself reminded me of a line from a song that I heard the other day and wanted to share,
He did for us to give us Life and to give us Hope, He rose…I do not know of a greater Joy the Him. *

 

[mangy_dog]

I frequently read how we should be joyful, let us rejoice, and so forth.

How do you remain joyful amid life’s difficulties? What helps you?

There is no joy without Peace.

Not peace of ambient silence or lack of noise…it is Peace despite the noise. Jesus is Peace. So a peacful soul has silence even in the midst of chaos.

Aquiesce anima mea in Deus salus mea.

 

[JVSantos]

How do you remain joyful?
By doing my best as a human to Imitate Christ.
With Gods merciful goodness, everything is possible.

 

[Lamafacaja]

The Holy Catholic Church gives me joy.

A glass of wine and a good steak with nice company doesn’t hurt either. Stayin’ out of trouble. Also my husband and kids stayin’ out of trouble. My needs are simple, really.

 

[agent_grey]

The promise of death awaits. I can not think of a more joyfull thing than to be liberated from this dispicable world.

 

[Biedrik]

I remain happy through constant prayer. Be it something as simple as the Jesus prayer, or praying for many hours deep in communication with God, it always brings me joy. It helps remind me that despite all my pain and all my sin, God is watching out for me and is doing everything in his glorious and almighty power to bring me to salvation.

Also, community is a beautiful gift from God when it comes to being joyful. My brother seminarians always give me reason to be happy. We all support each other on the path of discernment, and so I always have a source of happiness in my dark hours.

The promise of death awaits. I can not think of a more joyfull thing than to be liberated from this despicable world.

Creation is beautiful, not despicable. God does not create despicable things. Life here is a gift from God, not a curse.

 

[JVSantos]

Biedrik,
I thank you for answering the call, you are not alone in your journey. God Bless

 

[Biedrik]

Biedrik,
I thank you for answering the call, you are not alone in your journey. God Bless

And thank you for the kind words. The encouragement of others helps us all on the path.

 

[Judge_Mental]

Wait! It being joyful obligatory? Couldn’t I just be mildly upset? I don’t mind my fellow Catholics being joyful as long as it doesn’t break out into clapping and such at Mass.

I think I prefer to be thin-lipped and uptight, all things considered.

 

[LCMS_No_More]

You remain joyful by sitting alone on a park bench or in an omnibus that’s half-full. As you allow the breeze to speed over you in the former, or the bus to speed through the city in the latter, you may observe. Looking out and watching humanity pass by is extremely beautiful. How can you lack a sense of joy when you see all the cars sailing past you on the highway like a grand fleet? You can almost feel the progression of history; the long crawl of God’s plan being unfolded, as it were. This is pure joy!

Merely being with a human being you trust completely and are loyal to until death is joy. When you look into your best friend’s eyes and see him smiling at you with the most earnest and honest smile in the world, you become joyful. You see our Lord Jesus Christ in each man’s smile, and even in each man’s frown! I think you simply need to connect with one human being, the manly nature of Jesus. When this is accomplished, all other human beings seem to shine with an aura.

Read the Gospels, and think of them quietly as you are walking through the city on a golden afternoon, the last winds of noon caressing your skin. How can you see the swaying nations of trees and the innocent kingdoms of animals flitting through the branches and public gardens, and not feel joy? Our Lord created this world with intensity, and joy can be found everywhere! Listen to Haydn’s major-key symphonies, sit down with your most intimate friend to talk about God… whatever! Life is glorious, and though we are in a great war, there are still bastions untouched by the scourge of Hell - preserved by God for our joy.

Beautiful!

 

[angelic06]

The promise of death awaits. I can not think of a more joyfull thing than to be liberated from this dispicable world.

Now, wait a minute…this world is harsh from time to time, but our Lord and Master made it, and that there is goodness in it. Otherwise, why did He not destroy it in the Great Flood?

Now, true, to see our God and King is the ultimate prize for those who have persevered until death, but in order to claim it, we have “to compete according to the rules” (St. Paul).

 

[TimothyH]

For me the key is detachment from created things.

Not falling in love with everything society says I have to own to have a good life. Realizing that my car will break down and wind up on a scrap metal pile one day and there isn’t a thig I can do about it. Knowing that all I really need is a warm place to sleep and some food and that the rest is gravy. The house is a house, they build them every day. Even detachment from my own body - heck, it’s high mileage, already half worn out, lots of dents, doesn’t start too well on cold days - pretty worthless if you ask me.

Detachment is what does it for me.

-Tim-

 

[Barbkw]

Something I realized after my Mom died - joy is based in the “ever after” in the supernatural with the Trinity.

Meeting Jesus - how unbelievable will that be! And Mary and Joseph and the entire Communion of Saints. WOW

Knowing that Christ triumphs over all, after all.

Souls filled with hope, faith, and love return to God.

Death “has no sting”. Jesus has a loving plan for our bodys and our souls.

 

[Judge_Mental]

Memento mori is the phrase, I think. It’s why you see pictures of some saints with skulls. Remembering you’re going to die makes everyday annoyances trivial. You gonna die! So cheer up!