Joy, Junk & Jesus

"Today is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24

Have you ever had those days where you can't find a single positive thing that happened to you or rather you are just in that mood where you don't want to find anything good? When I first started college as a Freshman, I was the absolute worst when it came to focusing on all the negatives in my life. I rarely would mention a positive, and midway through starting college I noticed how bad it had gotten. My Mom would often ask me if there was anything good I could tell her about because I always wanted to talk about all the things going wrong in life. I wish I could tell you that nothing bad is ever going to happen. There will always be highs and lows in your day, but what alters your attitude is whether you choose to focus on your lows more so than your highs.  

 

Meet Abby. God introduced me to her this past summer as He planned for us to be cabin mates during the nine weeks we spent together as camp counselors. I cannot begin to express the kind of friendship I found with Abby or the fact that it all began when we found out we shared a sisterhood in Phi Mu. What I love most about Abby is the simple love she has for life and the people she interacts with each day. She has a soul overflowing for God, and I learned so much about appreciating the world around me from her. Abby revealed to me one of the greatest tools that I took away from camp to use in my everyday life.
Joy, Junk & Jesus. 

 

 Since mid-July, I have kept a journal of the highs (Joy) and lows (Junk) seen throughout my day but more importantly where I saw Jesus working in my life. In the beginning, recording my highs and lows were super easy. However, I would get stuck when I began thinking about Jesus and who I saw him working in or where I saw Him shining His light. Terrible, I know. I could make a list on all the positives and negatives that occurred during my day, but when it came to Jesus I struggled. It wasn't that easy because I had such a small image of what Jesus does during my day. I challenged myself to focus on the things that made me smile, made me stop in my tracks in pure amazement, but more importantly the things that made me want to tell everyone about the good things Jesus does. 

Looking back in my journal, there are so many days where I saw Jesus working in me internally to stay relaxed, breathe, and find peace. I have written numerous posts about my anxiety and the changes it can make in my daily life, but Jesus has been working tremendously in my efforts to not become so overwhelmed. I hear Jesus when I talk to my Mom every day as she comforts me and guides me in whatever I may be struggling with. I feel Jesus during interactions with my friends and sorority sisters when they offer an outpouring of love in any situation. I notice Jesus as I am walking back from campus to my room when I look up into the sky and stare in awe at the absolute beauty He paints for us day in and day out. Jesus is everywhere.

I encourage you to take the time to find your Joy, Junk & Jesus in your every day life. Whether you choose to write it down or devote a few minutes of reflection, take a moment to think back on your day and notice the way Jesus has chosen to impact your daily activities. You never know, maybe someone will see Jesus working in their own life through you. That just goes to show how awesome Jesus is.

"I have set the Lord continually before me; Because he is at my right hand. I will not be shaken." Psalm 16:8

With Love & Laughter,

Alison