Is there any chance COVID-19 spells J-O-Y? Or that political unrest spells J-O-Y? Anyone? Yeah, me neither.
Yet as I look back over my year—and that’s really all I can judge—I see the Lord’s hand. I see His joy.
For years I’ve been saying, “I’m not going to travel. I’m going to stay home, rest, and write.”
But a conference here, an invitation to speak there, and I’d be on the road. “Next year.” I’d promise myself. “Next year, I’ll stay home.”
Rinse and repeat.
This year, COVID took care of that long-postponed goal for me. When the country shut down in early spring, my March conference was cancelled. My August and September conferences soon followed.
Our church closed for two months and my husband, who’s been a pastor for thirty-four years without a sabbatical, had a bit of a rest. I still miss those Sundays we slept in and had church in our living room.
Our kitchen became our favorite cozy breakfast diner where I mastered eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast like a short order cook.
At one point during the shutdown, my husband declared 5 a.m. his new prayer hour. Eventually, I joined him. Then he added 5 p.m. And yes, eventually, I joined him. We call it “Praying on the fives” and now it’s built into our day.
One of my best friends purchased a winter beach house not far from me and because of COVID, she and her husband were able to spend an extended period of time in Florida, working from home.
This year certainly has not been without tragedy, loss, and sadness. But beneath all the rubble, can we find the joy?
I wonder how 2020 would look without COVID. Without the riots? Would we have continued with our “normal” lives? Not noticing our hurting neighbor. Going Mach-10, without pausing to spend time with our families. To pray. To learn new things. To expand our spiritual and emotional horizons even as our geographical borders shrunk.
Tough times force us to examine ourselves, our choices, our values and goals. Are we fueled by the Holy Spirit or limited by our own strength?
Every time I was overwhelmed this year it was because I was hoping in myself, in others, and fretting over things I could not control.
But when I lifted my gaze to meditate on His beauty, I was filled with joy and hope.
Joy is a gift and fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is not a result of a life well lived where everything is going according to plan. True joy is often formed in us during the most difficult seasons.
Joy is the infusion of God’s power in the midst of trial and chaos.
Paul wrote this to the Roman believers, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
David declared, “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” (Psalm 16:11)
The world is not offering us much joy this year, but our Father in heaven is offering unlimited access.
This holiday season, walk into the different rooms of your home and shout, “Joy!” Put on music and dance around with the kids, shouting “Joy!”
Perhaps when this year is all said and done, it will be true. We learned to spell COVID with three simple letters: J-O-Y.
Rachel Hauck is an award winning, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. She is a graduate of Ohio State University and now lives in sunny central Florida with her husband and ornery cat. Her most recent book, To Love A Prince, released in August 2020. Find her at www.rachelhauck.com.
