Finding Joy in the Journey

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." - Psalm 118:24

Life is a journey, often marked by peaks of joy and valleys of challenges. In the midst of this journey, God invites us to find joy not only in the destination but also in the steps we take each day.

 Many times, we hurry through life, striving to ensure we show up in the right place and meet the right people. We seek the perfect job, perfect relationship, perfect financial status. However, in our rush towards these goals, we often overlook the joy in the journey that is set before us.

If we prioritize finding joy in the journey, we unlock a multitude of benefits that benefit our lives. First and foremost, embracing the journey allows us to cultivate a greater sense of God’s presence. Instead of fixating solely on future goals, we learn to appreciate the beauty of every single moment.

Another significant benefit is the positive impact on our overall well-being. The constant pursuit of perfection can create stress, anxiety, and a sense of inadequacy. However, finding joy in the journey allows us to recognize and celebrate the progress we make along the way and encourages us to trust God for the future.  

In the book of Matthew Chapter 25, God encourages us not to worry about the moment.

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one [j]cubit to his [k]stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Ultimately, the pursuit of the perfect life often leads to a never-ending cycle of discontent, as the goalpost for what is deemed "perfect" continually shifts. On the other hand, finding joy in the journey transforms life into a continuous adventure, where each step, no matter how small, brings us closer to God’s destiny for our lives.

PRAYER

Father, I acknowledge that you love me and have gone before me, preparing the way and foreseeing every obstacle I will encounter. So, I say thank you Heavenly Father for paying attention to every detail in my life. Help me to see all the special people, places, and things You have prepared along my path. I ask that You open the eyes of my understanding so that I may see things, people, and situations as You see them. I ask for Your help to appreciate and enjoy this journey called life as I press towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus