Practicing the rhythm of joy may be the most natural thing you do all day, or it might feel like a never-ending search party. We’d like to have the brain space to look for joy—to be the one who celebrates the little things BIG—but sometimes recognizing joy just doesn’t come naturally.
God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns.
—Psalm 46:5
The good news is that we don’t need a degree in gratitude to practice joy, and that alone is worth celebrating! I don’t know about you, but sometimes my most memorable moments of joy are birthed out of overwhelm.
I remember sitting in my living room with a hot cup of (instant) coffee after closing on my home. Boxes were staring me down, kids were excited to get bedroom furniture set up, and we were very much living in the middle of a remodeling project with no working kitchen for the foreseeable future. I lifted my eyes to the top of my dreamy A-framed ceiling window to see the outdoors coming in with all its green, leafy, bird-occupied glory. Joy hit me and shifted my entire mindset. Boxes could wait. Celebrating answered prayer and God seeing me through a long season deserved its own block of time.
For the wellspring of life is with you. By means of your light we see light.
—Psalm 36:9
Have you ever noticed how beautifully the psalmist called out joy in creation, praised God for provision, and normalized the good things in regular, everyday living? It doesn’t have to be a perfect moment, a glamorous setting, or a huge win to notice.
I know every bird of the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.
—Psalm 50:11
The joy of the Lord can bring us the kind of physical and emotional rest we long for when we take notice and celebrate.
For you have made me rejoice, LORD, by what you have done; I will shout for joy because of the works of your hands.
—Psalm 92:4
Let’s give it a try with these ten ways to practice joy!
10 Ways to Practice Joy Today
1. Set a three-minute timer during your lunch break and call out three good things you can see.
2. Sit in your car for an extra minute or two to take a breather. Be still and notice God’s presence.
3. Do a weekly joy check-in with a friend and celebrate what brought you joy!
4. Read through any psalm and highlight how the psalmist celebrates God’s goodness.
5. Pull out the art supplies with friends or family. Use creativity to express joy.
6. Take a walk and linger in creation—notice the colors, the creatures, and the sounds.
7. Simply pray, Jesus, help me carry Your joy today. Journal what you experienced.
8. Resist the urge to pull out your phone for every joyful moment. Let your heart remember!
9. Do a Scripture search for the word JOY and write your favorites on notecards to memorize.
10. Before your feet hit the ground in the morning, thank God for the joy of His salvation.
ABOUT Jenny Holzknecht-Howell
Jenny Holzknecht-Howell has led in the local church for over twenty years, giving her all to family ministries across the country. Her best experience has grown from mothering her five favorite kids ages ten to twenty-five years old. Jenny’s home is a busy hub of conversations, cooking, and a side of crazy! She is passionate about connecting biblical hope with the hearts of women through writing and speaking. Jenny grew up in Alaska, so obviously her heart beats for mountains and a good snowstorm! Jenny has a B.S. in Education with a thirty-hour Bible & Theology ETA certificate from Toccoa Falls College, Georgia.
Want to practice holding on to joy, even when it’s messy? Check out the Daring Joy Bible study by Nicole Zasowski.
Daring Joy
In this 7-session Bible study, Nicole Zasowski draws from her experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist to point you to the enduring joy Jesus promises. Through the examples of six women in the Bible who model both the vulnerability of joy and the power of celebration, you’ll see that God longs for you to embrace abundant joy! Don’t miss out on your beautiful, God-given life because you’re busy preparing for the worst.
