God's Glory Church

“Life and death I have set before you, blessing and cursing. And you choose life.” — Deuteronomy 30:19

A few weeks after the death of a close friend, I spoke with her mother. I did not dare to ask how she was doing, because I thought it inappropriate, because she was in grief. Eventually, I pushed aside my hesitation and simply asked how she was doing. And this is what she said in response: “Listen, I choose joy.”

Her words helped me get through the unpleasant circumstances in my life that day. They also reminded me of Moses’ words to the Israelites at the end of Deuteronomy. Shortly before the death of Moses and the entry of the Israelites into the promised land, God wanted to remind them that they have a choice: “I have set before you life and death… choose life” (Deut. 30:19). The people could obey God’s laws and live well or leave Him and suffer the consequences – “death and evil” (v. 15).

We also have to choose how to live. Or we choose joy by believing and relying on God’s promises for our lives. Or we choose to focus on the negative and difficult aspects of our life journey, allowing them to rob us of joy. We need to rely on the help of the Holy Spirit and choose joy, knowing that “all things work together for good to those who love God, who are called by His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

How do you choose joy despite your current circumstances? How similar is the choice of joy to the choice of life that God told the Israelites about?

Dear God, Giver of joy, please help me to follow You and trust You.

Author: Katara Patton