Publisher’s Corner – Choosing Joy, One Assignment at a Time 

By Sandy Jones 

I think I say this each year. … Spring and Easter are my favorites, as I feel they represent the rebirth we experience as we become believers. What was old is now new. What was withered and gray is now green with fresh buds opening up and growing, embracing each new day! The air is somehow different too – fresh and crisp. It’s as if God is reaching out to all of our senses to remind us of how we felt the first time we believed, regardless of whether that was 50 years or 50 days ago. 

What a good, good Father we have that He loves us so much! He not only sent His one and only Son to show us that He is The Way, The Truth and The Life, and ultimately die on the cross for us; but He continually reaches out to us, to let us know He’s always there. 

I’ve recently been at a pretty big crossroads in life and trying to make some significant decisions. Twice in the last 4 or 5 months I’ve asked for specific signs, even laying a specific fleece before The Lord, reminding Him that I am a pretty simple lady, and that He needs to speak loud and clear so that I don’t miss the message. Mind you, this is the same decision. Somehow I got in my little pea-brain that perhaps the answers I received in November might have changed by the end of January, so we re-visited my plea for direction. 

“Who am I that you are mindful of me?” from Israel Houghton’s song “Friend of God” comes to mind as I type this, reflecting back on these times of prayer. Both times He answered within 24 hours, making it clear and decisive what direction He would have me go. 

I come from a Wesleyan Arminian background, which means I believe I have freedom of choice. I’m not a puppet with God pulling my marionette strings. God gave me a brain, and I’m called to use it. He also shows us the value in praying for wisdom in the story of King Solomon, who could have prayed for anything at all and yet he prayed for wisdom, and was granted it. 

“Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you” (1 Kings 3:12b). 

And so I prayed, expecting a long wait, only to be surprised by His quick and decisive messages – yes messages, plural, making sure that even a simple, pea-brained grandma like myself couldn’t miss the significance of what He was saying. 

I’ll be honest – in November it was a relief; late January/early February it wasn’t what I wanted to hear at all. Time changed me, but it didn’t change our Lord. What I do know is that He will continue to be faithful to give me the wisdom, discernment, and the strength to do what He’s made it abundantly clear I’m to do. It’s my choice whether to revel in His answer or to do so grudgingly. I choose joy for I know His Word is true as stated in Hebrews 13:21: 

“May he equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 

The road is not always an easy one. What, dear reader, will you choose? Will you choose joy as well? 

Until next time… 

God Bless! 

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