Joy: Finding Peace in the Pain
Joy is not a feeling that comes naturally to me. I wish it was. I have been working on it this year—finding ways to grow joy in my life. And by joy, I mean that inner feeling of contentment and peace no matter what circumstances I am facing. I want to be able to face hardships while also choosing to remain open to joy.
Joy is finding peace in the pain and having faith something good is on the other side of it waiting to greet me.
What even is joy?
I have heard it said that happiness relies on external factors while joy is an inner posture we choose regardless of what occurs in life, be it good or bad. It is great to celebrate the “wins” in life, feeling happy when another person treats you well or things are going well in your relationships or at work etc. However those moments, while they feel amazing, are often fleeting. I want to be able to experience joy not only in life’s good moments but also in sadness & heartache.
I have spent most of my heartaches and trials fighting them tooth and nail. It has only been in recent years I see how futile that is. Not only that, I can look back at past difficulties, mistakes, let-downs and see now how they have shaped and formed me for the better and how everything has turned out okay. So, why fight it when life’s inevitable downs do occur? Why not seek peace and contentment within the pain knowing there is something good waiting for you on the other side of it? That, for me, is what joy is: finding peace in the pain and having faith something good is on the other side of it waiting to greet me.
How does one find peace in the pain?
Finding peace within painful moments sounds impossible if not a little crazy, right? We usually try to avoid pain or do anything within our power to make it go away. But like I said, those efforts, at least in my experience don’t work and tend to only wear us out.
What has worked for me is consciously connecting to God and his presence daily. Relying on anything else as a way to peace has never lasted long nor does it feel truly genuine.
So, consciously connecting with God daily…sounds easy enough, right? Not for me. It takes effort and awareness on my part, but I have found the rewards to be worth it. Connecting to God’s presence becomes a practice in building my inner joy and peace muscles. If I can connect to God and His peace a little bit everyday it becomes a habit and then becomes second nature—making it easier to connect to His peace during difficult times.
How does one do this? I think it is likely different for everyone. Here is a rundown of what has worked for me. Hopefully, it will help you form what will work best for you.
5 Ways to connect to God’s presence that don’t include meditation or prayer
because that is too obvious ;)
1. Yoga or other Mindful Movement Practices
Yoga is where I found my breath. Years ago, I was in an emotionally and verbally abusive relationship and felt fear at all times. I happened to notice one evening while trying to fall asleep that my shoulders were up to my ears and I was holding my breath. I realized I had been doing this regularly at bedtime and even continued to do so after the realization. Sometime later, I was participating in a yoga practice where the teacher was very focused on the breath and linking each movement to an inhale or exhale. It was here I learned to breathe again. I remember being overwhelmed by the feeling and moved to tears at being able to inhale and exhale fully and completely. At times, I still have moments where I catch myself holding my breath in fear and then remember to breathe, taking a full inhale then exhaling slowly and completely.
I cannot say that yoga has solely informed my relationship and presence with God, but it is where it began. I have over the years come to think of breath as Spirit—”…then the Lord God formed the man…and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life…(Genesis 2:7, ESV).” The Hebrew word for breath is “ruakh” and it can also mean spirit. Yoga has become a place where I often connect to God by being focused on my breath. My breath is a reminder of Spirit and how God has breathed life into me and continues to do so with each new breath I take.
If yoga is not your thing, try another movement practice that focuses on the breath. Or just simply spend a few moments each morning focused on your inhales and exhales as a reminder of Spirit.
2. Time Outdoors
Spending time outside whether in nature, sitting on the balcony or taking a walk around the neighborhood is always a reminder of God’s presence among us. The area I live in is full of trees, birds, livestock and fields for growing food. It is impossible for me to be outdoors and not take note of all the beautiful plants and beings God has created and say a quiet thank you to Him.
Next time you are outdoors, even if in a large city, take note of the beautiful things that surround you. Whether it is a well constructed building someone used their God-given talent to create and build or a small flower growing in a crack of the sidewalk. No matter where we are, we can find signs that God is among us doing beautiful things.
3. time with animals/pets
My husband and I adopted a puppy, Leon, about a year and half ago. He’s an anxious little one. A bit like me, you’d say. He often operates from a place of fear. It’s been slow going building calm courage with him. However, slowly and surely progress is being made. He’s a reminder to me of how God is at work in my life. My walks with Leon often begin with a little pep talk. I’ll tell him, “We’re together. I am with you. You don’t need to be afraid. I am here to keep you safe, you just enjoy yourself.” Often during the walk he will stop in fear and refuses to move and I cheer him on, “You can do this! I believe in you! We’re doing this together.” In talking to him, I am reminded of what God is often trying to say to me. He’s here, always by my side protecting and comforting me, reminding me to enjoy myself. Next time you talk to an animal or pet, notice what God is also trying to tell you.
4. Cooking & Eating
This is a new one for me. Cooking is not my favorite thing to do. However, we have become members of a farm up the road from us. So we are blessed to have an abundance of organic vegetables straight from the earth every week. This means I cook more. It’s taken some time, but I have begun to enjoy this process. Since the food is coming straight from the ground, it is often covered in mud and dirt. Cleaning the food has become a sort of ritual before cooking. It is a deep reminder of how God and Earth provide for us.
I know in the future we will be living somewhere else and will resume getting our vegetables from a grocery store. I hope my experience here in this farming town will stick with me and I’ll remember where my food is coming from. Remaining mindful to thank God and Earth for the ways they support us. During your next meal, take a moment think about where your food originally came from and give thanks.
5. silence
Silence is something that I was not so comfortable with in the past. I used noise—whether always having the TV , music or a podcast going—as a way to distract myself from my own thoughts and worries. In doing this, I’ve come to realize I was never actually dealing with life’s difficulties properly. I now make it a point to spend a little time each day in silence. It doesn’t have to be long or excessive and it is usually during my walks outside. I leave the headphones at home and just walk in silence. If I become worried or agitated by the thoughts in my head, I turn it into a conversation with God. I’ve come to realize He can handle hearing about my worries, frustrations and even anger. I don’t have to pretend to be perfect for Him. I can just say how I feel and it helps me feel better.
Making presence to god second nature
Connecting with God daily will take effort on your part but these can be small moments. No need for grand gestures here. You can find ways to connect to God’s presence during activities that are already on your schedule rather than feeling like it is just another thing to add to your busy day. It just takes practice in becoming aware of those small, everyday moments we normally take for granted—like eating, taking the dog for a walk or those first moments of silence upon waking in the morning. Whatever way you choose, my prayer for you is that joy is always there to greet you.
♡,
Kristen
