1 Thessalonians 5:16 says, “Be joyful always.”

Honestly? That’s easier said that done.

I consider myself a positive and genuinely cheerful person. Some days, though, I just don’t feel it. I don’t know why it happens and I don’t like when it happens but it does.

I once read a book entitled Happiness is a Choice by Dr. Frank Minirth and Dr. Paul Maier. That book impacted me a lot as I realized that I am responsible for choosing to be joyful. I can’t choose whether others like me. I can’t choose whether my day goes according to plan. I can’t choose whether my students will all complete their homework on time. I can choose to be joyful in spite of my days.

Please know this. I don’t believe we should hide our true feelings and pretend to be happy if this is not how we truly feel. I believe we all have times of joy and sorrow in our lives. It is far worse to live behind a mask when we are truly suffering. God gave us community for this reason.

For me, right now, I only know this. I don’t want to miss the daily moments of joy because I’m so focused on the frustrating mundane moments.

I want to be a person who is not given to complaining. I want to be a wife who is encouraging. I want to be a teacher who is patient. I want to be a sister who is loving. I want to be a friend who is faithful. In all this, I want to be joyful.

True joy comes from the Lord. It is His gift – the gift of joy.

Just like happiness, I believe we can choose to be joyful. We can chose to embrace joy or fall to gloominess.

For those days when I’m not joyful, I regroup and know that tomorrow is another day.

I’m going to keep striving to be joyful, each and every day. For as Paul says…

“Be joyful always.”