Do you struggle with depression or anxiety or chronic illness? Do your friends and family tell you to just choose to be happy? Does that work for you? Me either. But here’s something I found.

One of the criticisms I, and many chronic illness sufferers, have with the “Just Choose Joy” movement is that they usually refer to short-lived, PAST struggles taken one at a time. My readers and I know all too well that chronic illness is long-lived and comes with other chronic issues such as finances (as insurance doesn’t pay for most of our treatment) and relationships (because our relatives and friends just don’t understand).  It’s much more difficult to look at the world through rose colored glasses when you have dealt with chronic illness for 35 or 40yrs, have no income, no job or finances are a struggle, relationships are strained because your family and friends have no idea what you are going through and suggest things that will help you that, well, just DON’T.  It’s then that your rose colored glasses have some cobwebs.

Life got chaotic and painful after my dh lost his job so I began looking for devotionals to read each morning. More of the same: just choose joy. Most of the people who wrote these pep talks had never been through all the things I have and, if they had, it was over when they chose joy.  Most of them talk about letting go of the past.  I’d have no problem letting go of the past, but all of my struggles are still right here in the present!

Then I found one written by someone who had been through at least a few very difficult things.  I loved how nonjudgmental and encouraging she was.  Then, almost at the very end, I found it…

I’ve always had a problem with the “Name it and Claim it” crowd.  Not all who pray are healed this side of heaven.  I usually point to Paul.  He had some kind of health issue he prayed for fervently, but was never healed.  In her devotional, this woman referred to Paul. And it hit me square in the face.  He was never healed and chose joy DURING his struggles. She pointed out that in his letter to the church at Philipi, Paul wrote the word rejoice 14 times.  Here is a bit of what he wrote:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4-9‬ NIV)

He was in prison, weak, and still in his health affliction when he wrote this!  But how DO we just choose joy?  The devotional is teaching me, some of it I’ve written about before.  It’s just that we don’t remember to do these things when we are sad.  We don’t always want to do them when we are in pain.  But we can choose to try.

The devotional is 21 days long.  It’s called 21 Days to Beat Depression by Carol McLeod at www.justjoyministries.com. I found it on The Bible App I installed on my iPhone and iPad.

Next week I’ll share what she says to do and how it’s working for me.