You Don't Have to Earn Your Joy and Rest

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No Shame November

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“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24

Have you ever felt like you couldn't really enjoy life until you got certain things figured out? Maybe you tell yourself you'll be happier when you lose weight, get your life organized, or finally break a habit you've been struggling with.

Or maybe you have a hard time resting because there's always something else you feel you should be doing.

I think a lot of us fall into these patterns without even realizing it.

But here's something I want you to understand: You don't have to earn the right to experience joy or rest. Both are gifts from God.

Shame can make us feel like we're not doing enough, not good enough, or that we don't deserve to be happy because of something in our past. It can also make us feel guilty when we slow down, as though our worth depends on how much we accomplish.

But that's not how God wants us to live.

One of my mom's favorite Bible verses was Psalm 118:24. She loved reminding people that each day was a gift from God and that we could choose to rejoice in it.

What made that especially meaningful to me was watching her live it out during some very difficult times. Even when she was in the hospital dealing with serious health challenges, she would repeat that verse.

She wasn't pretending everything was wonderful. She understood that joy doesn't require perfect circumstances.

Joy isn't the absence of problems. It's knowing that even in the middle of our struggles, God is with us and there is still good to be found.

And I believe the same is true of rest.

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Notice that Jesus doesn't tell us to finish our to-do lists, fix our problems, or get everything right before coming to Him.

He simply invites us to come.

Rest isn't something we have to earn by working hard enough. It's part of how God designed us to live. Sometimes that means taking a physical break, and other times it means giving our minds a break from the pressure, worry, and self-criticism we've been carrying.

I want to encourage you to think about how often you put conditions on your own happiness or rest.

Do you allow yourself to enjoy today, even when things aren't going the way you hoped? Can you take a break without feeling guilty about what isn't getting done?

God doesn't want you to spend your life waiting until everything is perfect to experience His goodness.

You can have responsibilities, unfinished goals, difficult circumstances, and things you're still working through while also making room for joy and rest.

And you can trust that God is at work in your life, even when you're taking a break!