Have you ever done something simply because it felt good?
During the cold months, we have an example of this everyday with our little Snickers, a miniature pincher (although I think there was a chihuahua mixed in there somewhere). We have coats for both Snickers and Cuddles and they wear them outside, and sometimes inside, when the temperature dips.

Cuddles likes the coat but when she comes inside, she immediately runs to a chair and walks back and forth until she opens the Velcro fastener. Then she tries to get it off with the result that she often has an “off the shoulder” look as she seeks our help in relieving her of the cumbersome coat.

Snickers does not object to the coat like her sister … she tolerates it without complaint, walking around the house with it on until the time when we realize that she doesn’t need it on, and we take it off of her.

Then, her actions become the humorous event of the evening! In short, she drags her back legs along the floor, then flips onto her back and twists for a while, then she does a circle crawl … always the same thing and always prompting a chuckle from us.

So, what makes you happy so that you do your own version of the happy dance?

During this year as we have experienced COVID-19, there has not been much to make us happy … lockdowns, illnesses, deaths, shortages of food and supplies, and the list goes on. Birthdays not celebrated, deaths not memorialized, anniversaries celebrated in front of the television … promises of future good things, of course, but we are still in the here and now.

Praise the Lord that God is in the here and now with us. He understands the pain of illness and ultimate loss. Remember Jesus weeping at Lazarus’ tomb as described in John 11:1-45. He understands the sorrow when a child is ill as described in Mark 5:22 when Jairus came to plead on his daughter’s behalf. He understands when we are tempted; Matthew 4:1 records when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. Hebrews 2:18 says that because Jesus was tempted, he is able to help us when we are tempted.

Beloved, even in these difficult times that are lasting longer than we ever expected, there is reason to be joyful. The Lord is with us, comforting and encouraging us. We are not alone during these difficult days. Be joyful. Psalms exhorts us to be joyful on numerous occasions … see Psalm 95:1 for an example. Proverbs 17:22 says that a joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Be joyful. Consider Snickers and her joy at being out of her coat. Now that is something that might bring a smile to your face, even in difficult times.

Lord, enable us to find joy even in hard times. Give us grace to be joyful and grant that we would praise You at all times, even when things are hard!