Covid fatigue. Are you feeling it?

For something that once held so much promise, 2021 just seemed to be a repeat of 2020 all over again. Between lockdowns and mandates, I think we can all agree that we are tired. The life that we once knew pre-2020 still is just a shadow of the past, and it’s hard to find joy when we are constantly bombarded with depression, division, and death everywhere we look. 

But joy is a choice. 

You know how when you feel when you get off of one of those carnival rides that spins round and round and round? That’s how I could feel right now, but instead I’ve chosen to fix my eyes on the One thing that isn’t changing or moving: God. He is the Rock on which I’ve anchored my soul. So even when all the world seems to be spinning out of control, I can look to Jesus and find my bearings. Just like when you are on that carnival ride and fix your eyes on a single point so that you don’t loose your cookies, the swirling, out-of-control feelings dissipate as I look on my Savior.

So even though the world around me seemed to be spinning out of control, I chose to dig in and live devotedly to the things that mattered most during 2021: my relationship with God, my family and my friends.

I recently read a quote, “If it doesn’t matter for eternity, it doesn’t matter.” I can’t for the life of me remember who said that, but it really stuck with me.

I tend to be someone who easily gets caught up in trying to be the best at everything, and when I fall short (which is inevitable) I can be pretty hard on myself… especially when it comes to being the best mom I can be. That pile of laundry on my laundry room floor? It’s driving me a bit batty… but it doesn’t matter for eternity. Holding my clingy, cranky, teething baby has FAR more eternal rewards than making sure that the clothes are folded and put away.

God doesn’t ask for perfection. He asks for faithfulness.

In my zeal for bringing my children to Christ, sometimes I put myself in the way. While pondering the concept of faithfulness over perfection, I had the realization that when I demand perfection of myself, I am trying to put myself in Jesus’s place. He is the only One who can and has lived a perfect life. When I try to be perfect, really I am trying to replace Christ and “do it by my own self” as my 3 year old would say. Does that mean I don’t need to try my best and improve? Absolutely not! But it does mean that my perspective shifts and I ask myself, “Does this matter for eternity?”

Between self-imposed perfectionism and a world that seems to get crazier by the minute, it’s easy to lose my focus on the eternal, and if I’m not careful, I can let it rob me of my joy. But as I said before, JOY IS A CHOICE!

Happiness changes with circumstances, but joy is something that can not be taken from me because the JOY of the Lord is my strength.

So this year, I am choosing JOY!

I want to smile more. Laugh more. Dance more.

I want to let go of unrealistic expectations. Let go of uncertainty. Let go of doubt.

When I walk into a room, I want my joy to be contagious and leave others feeling stronger, happier, more peaceful because they see someone who knows where her source of strength comes from: the Lord!

I want to have a heart overflowing with praise and gratefulness. I want to have lips that sing my thankfulness to the God of heaven and earth.

Despite the tears and sadness that are sure to come because we live in a broken world, I choose joy. It will be my source of strength in the hard times and bubble over in laughter and singing when my heart is light.

Joy… the world needs more joy. REAL joy. The kind that isn’t determined by circumstances, but the kind that is firmly fixed in Jesus.

So this year, I’m anchoring my soul to the source of joy… Jesus!