Don’t Steal Your Own Joy

Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

God has shown me so much over the past few months. My walk with Him has deepened in ways I never expected. I’ve learned that growing closer to God isn’t about going through the motions; it’s about intentionally moving toward Him, seeking Him with your whole heart, and being willing to let Him guide you.

I realized I had been expecting God to meet me where I was, while I stayed comfortable in my routines. I thought going to church, reading a verse here and there, and staying busy with life would be enough to keep me close to Him. But it wasn’t. I was only fooling myself.

Like so many of us, I’ve faced challenges, illness that leaves you exhausted for days, losses that punch the wind out of you, moments of devastation that make you question everything, and the constant, everyday struggles of being a mother, a wife, and trying to live a faithful life. There were mornings I woke up feeling completely overwhelmed, staring at the laundry piled high, the breakfast dishes in the sink, wondering how I could fit God into the chaos of my day. I used to think that just showing up to church or completing the routines of faith was enough. But excuses don’t make us closer to God, they keep us from fully experiencing Him.

When I began thinking about how my experiences, my struggles, heartbreaks, and mistakes could help others, I never imagined how transformative it would be for me personally. As I opened His Word with an honest heart, God revealed not only where He is in my life but also where He wants me to be. In just a few months, this journey has taught me more about myself and about God than years of routine ever did. I feel renewed, excited, and curious to see where He will lead me next.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that blessings aren’t always about what God gives us; they can also be about what He protects us from. Sometimes what feels like disappointment is actually His guidance. I prayed for something I wanted deeply, trusting that if it was God’s will, He would give it to me. But it wasn’t His will, and I didn’t get it. At first, I felt frustrated, confused, and even upset. I had to wrestle with my own expectations and accept that I couldn’t control the outcome. It was humbling, even painful.

Eventually, God revealed the reason. If I had received what I asked for, my life would have been consumed by distractions and obligations that would have pulled me away from Him. There would have been no quiet mornings with my Bible in hand, no time to sit and reflect, no moments to hear His voice in the stillness. What I thought I wanted would have stolen my joy and distracted me from the life He was carefully crafting for me.

It hit me then how often we are our own worst enemies. We ask for things without understanding the consequences. We cling to control, even though it only weighs us down, and we forget that surrendering to God is the only way to live fully. Letting go isn’t easy; it’s messy, frustrating, and can even feel unfair, but it’s necessary. We have to trust that God’s guidance is better than our desires and give Him full permission to work in our lives.

Being close to God doesn’t mean life becomes perfect. It doesn’t erase struggles, loss, or pain. But it transforms how we face those moments. It gives us perspective, strength, and peace. It reminds us that we are not alone, even when life feels overwhelming. It teaches us that blessings sometimes come in the form of not getting what we think we want, so we can have the space, time, and clarity to receive what we truly need.

If you want to see what God can do in your life, you have to let Him. You have to trust Him with the things you’ve been holding so tightly, the plans you’ve been insisting on, and the control you refuse to release. Love Him, trust Him, and immerse yourself in His Word. Stop trying to force your own timeline, stop trying to control every outcome, and stop stealing your own joy.

God has blessings waiting for you that you can’t even imagine, but you will never see them if you don’t open your heart and truly listen. The moments you think you’re losing something may be the very moments God is giving you the space to grow, heal, and draw closer to Him than ever before.

The Faithful Farmgirl

Reflection Questions:

1. What routines or “busyness” might be keeping you from fully experiencing God?

2. How can you surrender more of your desires and timelines to Him this week?

3. In what ways might God be protecting you from something you think you need but isn’t best for you?

Prayer: Lord, help me to let go of control and trust You completely. Teach me to seek You with my whole heart, to listen for Your guidance, and to embrace the blessings You place before me, even when they look different from what I expect. Guard my heart from stealing my own joy, and lead me closer to You each day. Amen.