100 Days til Easter

I know it seems that I’m getting ahead of the times. I promise I’m not jumping ahead to Easter too soon. But the planner in me is coming out a little bit. When I picked up a devotional journal titled 100 Days of Joy and Strength, I knew I wanted to do something special with it. Then a couple weeks ago, I saw something that said 100 days til Spring, and I thought, “That’s it! I should start the book today and it will take me right into Spring! Certainly that will help me begin to feel better.” 

But you know what? I didn’t feel like starting a task that was going to require some serious commitment. I didn’t feel like committing to anything that day. I wasn’t up for the task. I wasn’t feeling equipped or qualified. I was lacking motivation and could not muster up any amount of effort or energy. Not that day. For really much of anything.  

And many days before and after that as well. 

Taking Control of Our Feelings

I thought about it some more and knew that it was those feelings that were continuing to bring me down. If I let those feelings take root instead of putting effort into a daily task that I know will benefit me, I knew the downward spiral of depression would continue through the winter. And we’re not even to January yet. 

Recent health challenges, an autoimmune disease rearing its ugly head, an uncertain path forward, extra dilemmas thrown our way – all these are circumstantial and much of it out of our control. It’s easy to get depressed when life’s circumstances bring sadness and anxiety instead of pleasure and contentment. And when clinical depression takes up residence again, one wonders how long it’s there to stay. 

God is in control

I don’t want to ask why, but I do. I recognize that I can’t let my thoughts stay there too long, or discouragement and frustration come right alongside the depression. So I remind myself of these truths: God is allowing this for his good plan and purpose. We may never know why God allows certain things. We just trust his providence. 

He is God. And I am not. 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

I recently heard that our thoughts affect our emotions, and our emotions cause us to take action. If I can curb my thoughts away from negative mantras, I believe I will begin to feel the joy I know is deep in my heart and soul. But I can not do it by my own will-power or perseverance.

The joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)

Joy and strength.  

Oh, there were times in my life I felt those. Firmly and securely. 

But maybe I didn’t actually give proper credit to the source of joy and strength. 

The joy of the Lord. It doesn’t come from me or anything I do. This joy is found in the Lord. Because of the Lord’s work for us, we have, feel and share joy.

Christmas is certainly a time I often feel that joy more than other times of the year. The Christmas music, lights, family time and happiness of the season often bring joy to my life. Most importantly though is the message we hear about Jesus’ coming to earth to be our Savior. The promises of long ago being fulfilled in a humble barn stall. 

I have that joy! The message often brings me to tears – whether it’s in song or words spoken by children or a pastor. 

But I still don’t feel the joy on a daily basis. 

Letting Go and Thanking God

Could it be that my real issue is accepting? Accepting what is. This difficult time I’m in. The Christian walk often deals with hardship while resting in the promises of God. Every season is not filled with pure joy, yet we have so many blessings. 

And for those blessings, I thank our gracious God. 

At my boys’ Christmas concert, they sang the hymn “All My Heart Again Rejoices” (CW 329). 

It spoke to my heart and was exactly what I needed to hear. Tears wet my cheeks as the harmonies joined together in a sweet message. 

All my heart again rejoices
as I hear far and near 
sweetest angel voices,
“Christ is born!” their choirs are singing
til the air ev’rywhere
now with joy is ringing. 

Softly from his lowly manger
Jesus calls one and all, 
“You are safe from danger. 
Children, from the sins that grieve you
you are freed; all you need
I will surely give you.”

Come, then, banish all your sadness!
One and all, great and small, 
come with songs of gladness;
we shall live with him forever
there on high in that joy
which will vanish never. 

Christmas Joy to Easter Joy

We are just days away from celebrating one of the highlights of the Christian faith – Jesus coming to earth as true God and true Man. He was born and lived in a world of suffering. He knows our struggles and temptations. He comes to us in humility and knows just how to comfort us and relieve our suffering. 

This is what we can lean on as we continue through some of the darkest days of the year, the cold and gray of winter. And it is with these thoughts that I embark on a devotional journal opportunity – 100 Days of Joy and Strength – that will take me right up to the next highlight of the Christian faith, Easter Sunday. 

I encourage you to begin a similar journey. Maybe you’d consider purchasing the same journal and catching up in the upcoming days.  Or you could read the 4 Gospels in your Bible or People’s Bible commentaries over the next 100 days as we follow Jesus’ life through the church year, and journal your thoughts on Christ’s work for you. Along with the devotionals and journaling, I am making it a goal to walk, run, or workout each of these days, knowing that the regular movement in my routine will also maintain and hopefully improve my health. 

Let’s not do this life alone. I’d be curious if you begin your own 100 Days journey and would love it if we could encourage each other. 

Today, December 22, 2023, is 100 Days til Easter and I’m starting this book.

I’ll be praying for patience and perseverance, joy and strength, and knowing that any amount of any of that comes from our gracious Lord who carries us through this life on to the heavenly joys where saints and angels sing glorious hymns of praise to our Heavenly King. 

The Christmas worship, concerts, songs and readings will serve to be a foretaste of that heavenly joy. God be with you this Christmas season and always.