Got Joy?

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Reflections

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Posted On December 16, 2018

Have you experienced moments when everything feels right? The pieces of life’s puzzle fit? You feel safe. Content. At peace.

“What’s this feeling?” We might ask ourselves. “I’m used to worrying about something or someone, being angry at this or that, or striving to get here or there. But right now, I feel calm, whole, filled with love and compassion for myself and others.”

That feeling is joy. Life is good and so are you.

There are no mountains to climb; no ditches to dig. You’re happy. All your inner work—your willingness to grow and let go—has paid off, and the fruit of your labor is pure and simple joy.

Stop and notice joy. Name it. Inhale it. Savor it.

Learn how it feels in your body. Then open your heart wide with gratitude to the Creator. And smile. The joy of the Lord is yours.

—brian j plachta
brianplachta.net

Written by Brian J. Plachta

Following the Breadcrumbs God Leaves Along Our Path

What if God is speaking through ordinary moments more often than we realize?

A conversation that stays with us. A door that closes. A quiet nudge we can’t quite explain. An unexpected invitation that seems to come at just the right time.

The challenge is learning to notice these moments before we have any idea where they’re leading, and trusting the next step.

Over time, we may begin to see that God’s guidance doesn’t always come as an answer. Sometimes, it comes as a trail.

What to Do When God Seems Silent

Has silence ever made you feel like God is far away? When we feel this way, it’s easy to start looking for answers or waiting for a clear sign. But prayer can also be as simple as slowing down and noticing what’s already here. The breeze. The waves. Your breath. The quiet. God’s presence doesn’t always come through words. Sometimes we just need to be still enough to notice.

Let God Alone Define You

Ever have someone’s words get stuck in your head?
Maybe they criticized you, misunderstood you, or told a story about you that doesn’t feel true. And before long, you’re holding a courtroom in your mind—defending yourself, replaying the conversation, wondering if maybe they’re right.

There’s another way.

Bring it into the quiet with God.

Ask: Is there something here I need to learn? Is there something I need to own? And what was never mine to carry in the first place?

We can stay humble enough to receive the truth without letting someone else’s opinion become our identity.

Because in the end, God alone defines you.

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