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Holding onto Joy When Life Hurts

As the afternoon faded and the evening began, the weight of the day began its descent upon me. I kept my smile for many hours. I held my tongue. I kept my heart and mind from wandering into the ugly. But then it happened. That final straw that allowed the dam of emotions to emerge. I pushed through to get everyone tucked into bed, but I felt my heart sinking deeper and deeper.

The fatigue had come as had the darkness.  I made my way to my favorite crying place. My closet. And there I let the tears roll.

Sometimes the hurt is so deep and the problems so big, joy feels impossible. But is it? Holding onto Joy When Life Hurts will encourage you to let moments of joy fuel you forward and give you hope. -Lori Schumaker

I imagine you’ve been there, too. To that place where enough is enough. The cry needs to come. The pouring out of soul needs to happen.

For me, as the tears fell, a steady stream of unanswerable questions ran through my mind..

How will I keep doing this every day of my life?

Where will I get the energy? The brain power? The joy?

How can my children survive this?

How will my marriage remain intact and strong?

Where…where…is God and why is He letting this happen?

I could easily continue down this path of fear-filled questioning. But, I go where I know hope lives. As much as my flesh desires the continued groveling, I push toward that hope. I open God’s Word and I start where I know He has faithfully met me.

“Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.”  Psalm 30:5 NIV

I remember the many occasions on which this particular Word proved true.

The times God showed His faithfulness when the hurt was deep and the problems large. When defeat threatened my spirit and my joy.

But each time the morning did come.

The sun found its way from behind the clouds. And with it once again, I too, found moments of joy.

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That particular night I still went to sleep wrapped in grief. But the grief felt cleansed. It was if the tears had washed over it and His Word had put hope back in my heart.

As the morning arrived, I dragged myself out of bed asking the Lord for the reassurance of a better day. At least for the strength to put one foot in front of the other and be the Mom I knew He wanted me to be.

I stepped into the hallway, took a deep breath, and walked towards my children’s rooms. Seeing their precious sleeping faces,  reminded me yet again of the gift God gave me in them.

Another deep breath, an arrow prayer for joy, and a gentle, “Good morning, sunshine.”

I could feel the tinges of hope beginning to form in my heart. And then then God did what only He can do in the moments we need it most.

I looked into the very set of eyes that just the night before had grieved my soul and caused the damn to break. She looked up at me and said, “I love you, mama. Hug me, please?”

And it’s real. The emotions are there. For that moment she is completely with me – connected. I’m her mama and she’s my baby girl.

I hug with all my might, feel the hope grow even buy tamoxifen online india more, and then feel His joy of the morning renew me.

And I let that one moment be enough. I let that one moment fuel the hope in my soul.
Let moments of hope fuel you forward #hope #joy Click To Tweet

Sometimes the hurt is so deep and the problems so big, joy feels impossible. But is it? Holding onto Joy When Life Hurts will encourage you to let moments of joy fuel you forward and give you hope. -Lori Schumaker

Friends, I don’t know exactly what your story entails, but I do know that in the darkest hours of our pain we have a choice to make. We can follow the trail of darkness or we can turn toward the hope found in His light and in His Word.

It isn’t a one choice deal, however. It is one we will need to make over and over and over again. I am willing to make that choice because in the trail of darkness there is no hope at all. Will you make that choice with me?

Because you know what? When we make that choice, God redeems it.

He shows us the moments of joy. He opens our eyes and heart to see and feel the beauty of the everyday. And He fuels us forward with a joy that is deeper than momentary happiness.

Happiness creates a smile that lasts merely a moment, but true God-given joy is the author of a smile that cannot be taken away by the circumstances of life.

God-given joy is the author of a smile that cannot be taken away by the circumstances of life #joy #hope Click To Tweet

A Smile Word Swag Creation

Looking for more joy and hope? Here are some of my favorites from the Word of God.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)  

May the God of my hope so fill me with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of my faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit I may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope. -Romans 15:13 (AMP) 

When the Complete arrives, my incompletes will be canceled. I don’t yet see things clearly. I’m squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! I’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees me, knowing him directly just as he knows me! But for right now, until that completeness, I have three things to do to lead me toward consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.  And the best of the three is love. -1 Corinthians 13:10, 12-13 (The Message) 

I am overcome with joy because of God’s unfailing love, for He has seen my troubles, and He cares about the anguish of my soul. -Psalm 31:7 (NLT) 

I call out to High God, the God who holds me together. He sends orders from Heaven and saves me. God delivers generous love, He makes good on His word. -Psalm 57:2-3 (The Message) 

Though I am surrounded by troubles, my God will preserve me against the anger of my enemies. He will clench His fist against my angry enemies! His power will save me. The Lord will work out His plans for my life – for His faithful love endures forever. -Psalm 138:7-8 (NLT) 

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13 Comments

  1. Thank you sister for sharing His ever-growing heart in you. Deut 30:14

    1. loriandbryan@q.com says:

      Thank you, Jason, for that Word…I am holding onto it and claiming it in the name of Jesus! 🙂

  2. loriandbryan@q.com says:

    Thanks so much, Leanne!!! Love you and your heart to pieces!!!

  3. I love Psalm 30! Something so holy about the reminder that “weeping may come for the night, but joy comes in the morning!” I blogged using that exact verse as well! Peace and joy be with you!!

    1. Psalm 30 has truly been a verse that God has used to keep the hope brewing in my heart. I got a chance to read your post and loved it! Thanks so much for visiting me!
      Lori

  4. stoopingformanna says:

    Oh, Lori- I’ve been in the crying closet many times. And you beautifully describe the transformation that takes place in His power. So we can keep on, move forward, and smile. I love your heart and your words. This line, especially, encouraged me: “I am willing to make that choice over and over and over again because the trail of darkness has no hope at all. ” Thanks for linking up!

    1. Thank you so much for commenting! I am thankful beyond what words can show for the opportunity to have words that I wrote encourage you! God is so good!!!Keep smiling!
      Lori

  5. Psalm 30 is my fave!! I loved this post! Thanks for sharing your story!

  6. Loved the scripture that you quoted. I found you through #JoyHopeLive I hope your day has been blessed

    1. Thanks for stopping by and glad God’s Word touched you. May your day be filled with blessings, as well!!!

  7. I am sorry for your pain but encouraged by your spirit. I thought for the longest time that crying in the shower hid my pain from my kids. Then one day I heard my daughter crying in the shower and I asked her what was wrong. She said momma this is just the place to cry and get it out, it works for you. Since then I’ve been more open with my tears, grief, and healing with my kiddos. We created a crying closet for my daughter for awhile when her daddy was deployed. It helped a lot. Sorry for the rambling lol your post touched me. Thanks for linking up with #JoyHopeLive Hope to see you again tomorrow

    1. Hi Hope,

      I am so glad you felt encouraged. Finding that balance of tears and bravery is tough, right? We need to protect but keep it real with our children. Being a Mama is SO tough, but God gets us through and I hold onto the knowledge that where we may fail, He fills the gap. If we were everything for our children, they wouldn’t need Him. I will be keeping you guys in my prayers!!
      Blessings and smiles,
      Lori