faith unfaded

After three weeks away, I walked back into a room that greeted me with hastily dropped bags between destinations, stacks of souvenirs and mail, a layer of dust on the furniture, and a dramatic display of pet hair that could’ve filled its own throw pillow. My first instinct could have been frustration — the weight of all that work waiting for me.

But instead of sighing and grumbling, I felt myself pivot. That little twist in perspective. Instead of seeing a mess, I saw the evidence of adventure: a home worth returning to, a vacation brimming with stories, and yes — even the pet hair that meant I’d been missed.

For most of my life, I’ve had a habit of laughing about struggles later. My dad taught me the concept well. I’ll replay a moment days or weeks after it happens and find myself chuckling, telling it like a funny story around the dinner table. But lately, God’s been showing me the freedom in laughing sooner — not waiting until the irritation wears off, but pivoting in real time to joy.

Scripture tells us:

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)

My heart thrives with laughter. It once was buried in hurts.

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

No one knows how many days they have left on earth, but in my 5th decade of life it’s a safe assumption that I’ve lived more than I have left. Why would I waste a single one? THIS is the day the Lord has made. Whether it has heartache or missteps or a deep unfulfilled longing, it is still a day in which to rejoice.

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)

Joy doesn’t erase the work that still needs to be done. The bags still need unpacking and the counters still need wiping. The Clorox wipes barely make a dent in the dog hair that seems to multiply overnight.

But joy reframes it. I relive vacation moments as I create souvenir displays. I feel the love as I put birthday cards on my wall. I remember that there’s a dog here that also sticks closer than a brother — and that matters more than a pristine surface.

Joy reminds me that God didn’t just design us to endure life — He designed us to enjoy it.

So next time inconveniences roll in or disappointment takes center stage, choose joy in the moment. Why wait for later?