You know when it hits: doldrums, dragging through the day, looking in the mirror to see if you really have turned into Eeyore* since it sure feels like it on the inside.
Eeyore* — a fictional character in Winnie-the-Pooh books generally characterized as a pessimistic, gloomy, depressed old grey stuffed donkey…. whom we all love and recognize.
As I turned to Philippians 4 in my Bible, I saw my notes in the margin “Topics affecting joy” and a bit more that I obviously placed there as someone was teaching on this chapter.
It was a great reminder for me so I will share with you how I decided to “keep tuned into my joy-killers”. These days an acronym is helpful for my memory. So here it is: CWTC – oops that doesn’t spell anything memorable! So I created a sentence “Can’t Wait ‘Til Christmas” that represented a “joyful” feeling for me. Christmas is just an extra-special time I love – and thinking about it brings me joy.
But what is behind “Can’t Wait Til Christmas”? The key to kicking those “joy-robbers” out of my life!
So, let’s visit the book of Philippians. Paul was writing (while he was in prison) to the Philippians thanking them for their gift of support. In the 4th chapter, he gave them some very practical advice. And these points are so relevant to us today – the “joy-robbers”.
First – he identified a specific conflict between two women that was occurring – women who were fellow workers in sharing Paul’s teaching in the gospel and whose names were in the book of life. Paul “pleads” with the women “to agree with each other in the Lord”. Then he asks the other members to help the women. ‘Nuff said. He then stops.
That’s the first “C” in my joy-robbers list. “Conflict” prevents people from living in harmony, even when they are both Christians. Paul called them to “think the same” as Jesus looking not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others — as Paul described it in Philippians 2:5. That is the first step, humility, but it also must lead to the final goal – living in harmony. And we often need guidance from fellow Christians to help us walk through it.
Next is the “W” which stands for “worry”. Paul addresses this in chapter 4, verse 6, saying it as a command – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
The command to not worry is for us, but here’s the good part (God’s part) of this message. The next verse assures us that when we follow the command, we will receive “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding….”
And then the “T” which represents “thought life”. Anxiety is relieved by taking all things to God in prayer and committing our worries to a capable God as mentioned above, but it is effectively put in place by thanksgiving. When we recall God’s past faithfulness, expressed in our words of gratitude and praise, it impacts our habits, attitudes, and thought life. These follow from what we set our mind upon – and Paul gives a partial list in v. 8: whatever is honorable, right and lovely. Eeyore badly needs a new “thought life” – except it would ruin his role in the book.
And we are down to the last “C” in the joy-robbers list – contentment. It is interesting that this whole letter to the Philippians is to thank them for their gift but next comes a surprising statement. As he shared his rejoicing in their show of concern for him in this way, Paul said “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
Wouldn’t we all like to say this? And he finishes this amazing passage with these words that explain how he learned contentment – “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Did I mention he was in prison at the time of writing this letter to them? Yep, I need that level of contentment.
So there is the full acronym/sentence I use now to help me remember when joy dips low. Look for the culprits: Conflict, Worry, Thought Life, Contentment Level.
Can’t Wait ‘Til Christmas – it just makes me smile saying this sentence. Plus, I now have a quick assessment tool to check for anything robbing me of being joyful. You may come up with your own. Please share if you do. And may we all find joy welling up in our lives even more than ever before!
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