I was so happy when someone asked me to write about this, because it is something I have learned a lot about recently and am still trying to achieve. It sounds easy. I think all true Christians love God and are thankful that he is such a good God and can find joy in Him. But can you find joy in God? Just God? For example, can you find joy in God when you got rejected from a school or job, when you are single, or when your life is drastically changing? Can you find joy in God during these times, so when the perfect job comes, the perfect relationship comes, or when your life is exactly where you have want it to be, you will still find joy in God over these world possessions? I think it is really important in the waiting seasons, maybe in seasons where you feel like God is one of your only sources of joy, to be intentional in finding joy in Him. Then, you are grounded in who you are in God when the world around you turns fast paced again.
One of the most important reasons I can think of for why you should find your joy in God is because if you try to seek joy in anything else in replace of God, it will eventually fail you. This makes me think of the story of building your house on the rock. Starting in Matthew 7:24 it says, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” If you build your house solely on your job, solely on your relationship, or anything else that isn't God, it will eventually crumble. So how do you find joy in God? For me, its's knowing that He's the only one/thing that could ever fulfill me. Psalm 16:11 says, "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." God holds our life in His hands, and what better way to enjoy life than to know and love your creator? Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." I think this is a good verse for waiting seasons, because whatever you're waiting for, you have some sort of more time on your hands to "delight yourself" in God. You have more time to learn more about him, find your identity in him, and pray to him. It's definitely beneficial to pray to God for future desires, but also remember that God will never waste a season of your life. He wants to do something in and through you right now! Thank God for whatever season you're in and find ways during this time to ground your faith in Him, so you will benefit from it later on in life! Build your house on the rock, so when the storms come you know who you are, and you will not be shaken. God is the true source of joy, and you will never regret going to him, especially when you find yourself needing joy the most.
If you related to this, I recommend that you listen to these songs:
"Build My Life" by Housefires
"Remember" by Lauren Daigle
"Nothing Else" by Cody Carnes
Beautiful Emma!