Obstacles to Joy...
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at 9:24AM 
Happy Tuesday, Friends!
Okay, so I mentioned my goal to blog most days if not every day. So far, not doable. We’ve been on the road a lot in October. We’re looking forward to being off the road from November through January. I’m hoping to be able to post more often during those months.
I have two more Blessings books to give away this week for a couple of you who post on my blog!
Here’s today blessing from Facebook:
Start a Day Blessing: May you begin to see your disappointments as divine appointments. May your spirit-eyes open up to God's invitation to something better, something deeper, something profoundly fitted for you. May you lift your eyes and see how your whole story fits in the bigger story God is writing for His Namesake. When you're tempted to look down in angst, may you instead look up and pray, not only for yourself, but for the many who struggle in ways similar to you, but who don't know how to pray like you do! God intends to solve some of the world's problems through you. Trust Him and let Him use you in ways that are beyond you! Have a great day.
When we walk through seasons of loss and disappointment, it’s far too easy to get stuck in the muck there. When we bump up against the obstacles that threaten our joy, our tendency is to back off and look down when God invites us to press forward and look up.
Here are a three common obstacles to joy – obstacles that we can move past to find our footing and our perspective again:
The Fear of Man: Proverbs 29:25 says ~ The fear of man is a snare, but the fear of the Lord is safety (and freedom).
When disappointment or angst is rooted in what people think about you (or what you imagine they’re thinking about you), the tendency is to get small and cower. But the invitation here is to send your roots down deeper into God’s marvelous love and to find your depth, your strength, and your identity more firmly rooted in Him.
Instead of becoming negatively self aware, look up, reach up, and find your Father cheering you on, loving you every step of the way, and securing your life story for His Namesake. He’s all you need. His opinion matters most and HE loves you best!
The Sin of Comparison: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says ~ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Though it’s easy to fall into the sin of comparison we must remember that it’s a ‘gateway’ sin that leads to jealousy and ingratitude, both of which, open us up to the enemy’s influence in harmful ways.
If you’re in a waiting or a ‘not yet’ season, refuse the temptation to gaze at those who have what you want. Instead, look up to the One who has been so very good to you, knowing He’ll be good again. He loves you. He’s committed to you, and there’s something He has for you in this place. Start thanking Him now. Today. And see if you won’t find your spiritual eyes opened afresh to the ways God is moving in your midst. When it’s best for you, He’ll bring the breakthrough.
Loss of Perspective: Romans 8:25, 28 says this ~ But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently… And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Far too often we keep ourselves in the small story when God has a far greater story on His heart for us. We tend to focus on temporary setbacks and disappointments and we forget that our Sovereign Lord knows every detail and works every speck of our story for a grander purpose.
Step back today and consider how your temporary loss or setback may serve a greater purpose for a greater glory. What might God be up to in and through you? Instead of handing your heart over to despair or disappointment, determine to step back and remember God today. He loves you. He’s for you. And He’s up to something good.
It takes some spiritual tenacity to press past your obstacles and to find faith amidst your circumstances. But it’s worth it. This is the stuff of spiritual maturity and empowering grace.
Keep walking. Keep believing. Look up and find your strength in Him.
Blessings on your day today!
Reader Comments (39)
Would love to win a book i share your blessings/prayers on my FB page
Your perspective has put words to my feelings that have gone long unspoken... I thank God for you & the hope you bring into view...
How often the depth of these blessings settles deeply into my bones! Thank you for reconnecting me with the power of the blessing and giving me a tool to bless others.
I think you have really hit the heart of the reasons why our joy is fading or gone. You challenged me this morning especially with the PERSPECTIVE point. It is so easy to lose that. Yet, it is so easy to change if we simply choose to take every thought captive, hold it up to the Light (Jesus} and set our minds on those things that are true, lovely, of good report, etc...How quickly our perspectives will change and that in turn, changes everything!
Thank you Susie for your daily thoughts and prayers. I always look for them, and read them, sometimes 2 or 3 times. They touch my heart and my soul and always give me hope. I love the beautiful song that you share with all of us. Thank you!
This is very timely for me. My husband passed on a few weeks ago, but instead of being satisfied with where I am, God is calling me to a greater purpose. God has allowed many trials in my life and I can't just sit back and reflect. I need to minister to others who have similar hurts. This is all about the Kingdom of God, not about me.Susie, your posts have been very encouraging and uplifting to me. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself.
Hi Susie,
You are so right! Why do we need this constant reminder. Why is it so hard to stay clinging to these truths when we know it is truth! During the easy times, no problem. But when life gets hard, when your enemy glares and attacks, when your body shouts in pain with flare ups, when yet another one you love health fails and you fear you have to walk through the death process all over again, and when your sleep is not restful----still----we are to have joy. Have His peace. Keep on walking and praising and praying. Though my heart is on the floor once again, I will persevere on the walking path because He is with me and loves me immensely. He is for me, just like you often say.
I love your daily blessings Susie. I have recently begun to read your book "Mercy in the Wilderness" after the death of our two year old twin grand daughter, the day after my sister was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. I felt like I had been hit by a train...twice. In trying to deal with the grief of loosing our precious grand and taking care of a bitter, non believing sister, I was definitely in the wilderness. Between your book of Mercy and your daily blessings posted on Facebook, I can't begin to tell you what a true blessing they have been. Focusing on His truth during times like these are so important, preventing the enemy of discouragement coming in that door and taking over. Thank you again for your heart to serve Him!
Thank you. Thank you for what you do every day. On the radio, facebook where! You have opened my eyes and soul in ways i have desperately needed. I thank God for you every day!
I would LOVE a blessing book. Your daily morning and evening blessings got me through some dark days last year this time. It helped me hang on to a faithful and loving God whom I knew would keep holding on to me!
I espcially like the part you wrote: Loss of Perspective: Romans 8:25, 28 says this ~ But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently… And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
My disappointments and discouragements are much like the island of Patmos. Being exiled to yet another rejection! Or is it? It may look like a rejection because I didn't get what I "thought" I wanted. Is it God protecting me? He does know best. So I give him thanks on that Island. I am content on that island.
In my life I have found that if I see something and I truly feel God spoke to my heart and It hasn't manifest itself, I wonder then if it was God who spoke it to me. I wonder if it was the enemy coming disguised as an angel of light. My problem is that I share things with too many and I have recently realized it. They speak their thoughts and then I make their thoughts mine. This time after a long period of time, God has shown me that what he spoke to me over 2 years ago , even though it has looked like it isn't happening, is coming around again into the light. So Susie. I am waiting patiently and confidently. I like your words. So.. I wait, Where I am in the story is not the end of this story. My island of Patmos does not have the power to define me. David was exiled because of his faith. My God , Lord and Savior has freed me from that island. Thank You Jesus.
Such a blessing. Was in a quiet short quiet season this morning but God came rushing through the door this morning and has been pouring out his direction and blessings. Letting go of things and offering forgivness to those who deeply harmed me. I will find freedom. All of these seasons are helping to shape and mold me for God's greater plan in my life and I must rejoice in the now and what is to come. Thank you for your wisdom.
Susie, Thank you so much for this post. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your book, YOUR BEAUTIFUL PURPOSE. I think, too often, I have fallen prey to each one of these joy stealers!! Reading your book has helped me regain a very clear perspective of the path God has me on. I have learned four things on this continuing journey: 1. BE FEARLESS , 2. BE STILL , 3. BE QUIET 4. WATCH GOD AT WORK I very much enjoyed and was blessed by your book.
"Thank You" Almighty God, for this encouragement you have given me through Susie~
I am in Excited Expectation of "the plans that you have for me"~
Use me for your Glory Father, for the Blessing of others, and that you are Abundantly Glorified~
I praise you in the quiet & waiting, so that you can shine in and through me~
By the Authority of Jesus Christ~ Amen~
I have been following your blessings on Facebook, I scroll thru until I find them :) They are simple yet a great way to start/end the day. Thank you for your posts!
I, too,often confuse joy with "feeling happy". The greatest joy I've had is when I stop trying to feel happy, find time to be with Jesus to gain authentic joy.
Thanks for all the scriptures of truth here. A good daily reminder :) Thanks for your book giveaway! I know I would love it ;)
Blessings!
Colleen
Susie, I look forward to your morning and evening blessings on Facebook. They make me look at decisions I will face or have made during the day. As you know, we all struggle every day. We may not even realize it's a struggle until we look back. We always need to keep God first in everything, but at times that's hard. Distraction is a great sin and your words help me with working on that. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Blessings
Katrina
I would be blessed to receive your Blessings book! God Bless You!
So encouraged by these words and your FB start the day blessing. Going through such a tough time and your words of encouragement strengthen me.
Your blessings, and now your blog, are always so very timely for me! Thank you for letting Him use you for His kingdom work! God bless you, my friend!
Susie, you are my inspiration! I have gone through bible studies, they are truly amazing. When i tried to commit suicide a few years back and was in the hospital, your studies were the only personal items i could have. Today i continue to read your daily devotions. Thank you for everything!
Blessings, Kimberly
Susie, thank you for your daily blessings. I have just discovered them after beginning to read "Your Beautiful Purpose." God is really hitting me deeply in every chapter of your book. Thank you for living out your call for Him in writing this book and your blog. They have touched my heart. I'd love to win a copy of your other book, but if not, that's okay! The Lord is still working through what I already have.
God bless!
No maybe about it! This does encourage me! Thank you. Pride is what often stands in my way - along with pet sins which I should not call pet sins, call a spade a spade - sins are not pets - maybe pests! They need to go! Go.Now.
Loss of perspective and comparison are stumbling blogs for me. Be blessed as you are blessing others.