Jasmine Nicole

One thing I’ve learned this year is that joy will give you the strength to conquer anything.

But reality is that right now, many people aren’t in a place where they want to be for various reasons and joy is too far away to see.

But in God’s word, Nehemiah 8:10 says, “…Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

For me, my faith has given me strength this year to endure situations that I wanted so desperately to wallow in because. My biggest challenge this year was losing my car which I had worked hard to pay off.

Even in that situation, I choose to eventually put aside my circumstances (because it took time!) and find gratitude and joy in that fact that one day I would have something newer, something better. And I have made peace and found joy that even if I never get something newer or better, God will keep me afloat as he has done all this time.

It’s not easy to choose joy, especially because the world and people in this world will try to take it away.

I’ve seen it with my own eyes how people will literally take a moment of happiness and crush it right in front of you whether they mean to or not.

Which is why you need joy. Joy is unshakable and it’s not reliant on what is going on in your reality. Joy carries you through the summer seasons of your life and the winter seasons.

And this time of the year, joy floats through the air. If you don’t have joy for yourself, grab some from someone else.

Or think back to the most joyful moment you’ve had this year and take that moment and make a permanent place for it in your heart. Use it to replenish your strength to carry you into next year.

May joy find you this Christmas season…