Tag: god

Choosing Joy!

Sally K.

Here we are, the -ber months are upon us: September, October, November, December. For many, these months bring cozy feelings of fall leaves, holiday gatherings, and a sense of anticipation. But for others, this season can feel heavy. The days get shorter, the nights longer, and a creeping weight known as seasonal depression (or seasonal affective disorder) tries to set in.

Maybe you feel it, you know – the lack of motivation, the sadness that lingers, or the pressure of the year ending without seeing everything you hoped come to pass. Maybe you’re asking yourself: “Where did the year go? Why do I still feel stuck? Why didn’t I accomplish my goals?” Or you see things happening for others around you but nothing seems to be working for you.

I want to remind you of something powerful: sadness may try to creep in, but you can choose joy. And not just fleeting joy, but the kind that sustains, strengthens, and uplifts no matter the season, the joy that comes from Christ.

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” — Nehemiah 8:10
“In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” — Psalm 16:11

Joy isn’t an emotion that comes and goes with circumstances. Joy is found in one person alone – Jesus Christ. And when we anchor ourselves in Him, joy becomes more than a feeling; it becomes a weapon to combat emotions, depression and the enemy!

It’s tempting to fight seasonal depression with surface-level fixes alone; cozy drinks, pretty decor, vacations, or self-care routines. While those things are good, they can only touch the surface. They don’t heal the heart. They don’t silence the thoughts that keep you awake at night or that tries to cripple or paralyze you in the day.

But Jesus does.

Only Christ can get to the root of despair and lift the spirit from heaviness to hope. Scripture calls Him “the oil of joy for mourning” (Isaiah 61:3). The world offers distractions, but Christ offers deliverance.

Dependency on Him looks like:

  • Running to Him daily for strength.
  • Speaking His Word when the enemy whispers lies.
  • Leaning on His presence when loneliness strikes.
  • Trusting His timing when disappointment hits.

The truth is, without Christ, we try to manage depression in our own strength. With Christ, we don’t just manage it – we overcome it!

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7

Be intention about your thoughts and emotions. I often find myself stopping mid mind-chatter and saying “Shut up devil.” in addition to combating with scripture. I’m also a silver-lining kinda girl so I try to think of the positive in the situation rather than my lack – you know – glass half full thoughts. This also creates gratitude concerning my current situation rather than complaining or feelings of saddness about what I’m waiting on.

Ways to Overcome

This is where true victory lies.

  1. Daily Word intake. Even a single verse can reset your heart and mind. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105
  2. Worship through the heaviness. Darkness cannot survive in an atmosphere of worship. Dance it out! Worship it out! Praise it out!
  3. Pray earnestly. Don’t hold back. Tell God exactly how you feel – no eloquent speech required. He’s big enough to handle your truth.
  4. Speak life daily. Refuse to partner with despair, declare God’s words and promises over yourself.
  5. Remember community. Sometimes healing comes in shared burdens. Partner with someone who can pray you through.

God created our bodies and minds, so it’s wise to care for them practically while leaning into Him spiritually.

Practical ways to overcome;

  1. Get moving. Gentle walks, stretching, dancing or exercise help release endorphins and fight sadness.
  2. Seek light. Shorter days mean less sunlight – try to get outside when you can or sit near windows. Oh and turn on the lights! Darkness cannot comprehend the light.
  3. Stay connected. Depression isolates, but joy is found in community. Call a friend, join a Church or Fellowship, or attend a Bible study.
  4. Rest intentionally. Create a routine that gives your body and mind true rest – not avoidance.
  5. Create small joys. Add little things that spark delight: a new candle, uplifting music, journaling, date nights with friends, shopping or a gratitude list.

Declare Over Yourself

Speaking declarations out loud is powerful because our words carry life. When we declare God’s truth, we’re not just reminding ourselves; we’re building faith, breaking agreement with lies, and shifting the very atmosphere around us. Even Jesus spoke the Word out loud when He faced temptation, showing us that victory comes when truth is voiced, not just thought. Declarations train our spirit to expect God’s promises and invite His presence into our daily lives. It’s not about positive thinking, it’s about aligning our hearts, minds, and environments with the living Word of God.

Speak these out loud until your spirit aligns with the truth:

  • “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)
  • “This heaviness is not my portion, Jesus is my portion.”
  • “I will not be overcome by sadness; I am an overcomer through Christ Jesus.”
  • “I choose joy, peace, and hope today because Christ lives in me.”
  • “This season will not defeat me, God is faithful in every season.”

What you listen to also helps. Here are some powerful messages to soak in as you depend on Christ for joy:

Let these words wash over you. Don’t just listen once, play them often until the Word of God replaces the lies of the enemy.

Beloved, as we step into these -ber months, don’t let depression steal your joy. Don’t let the year’s end trick you into thinking you’ve lost. With Christ, every season has purpose and there’s victory on all sides!

Remember, creation itself is waiting for your light to shine (Romans 8:19). And the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you (Romans 8:11). That means joy is not optional, it’s your inheritance in Christ.

This season, let’s not just survive – let’s thrive! Let’s lean on Jesus, depend on His joy, and watch Him change our garment of heaviness into a garment of praise.

I choose joy.
I choose Jesus.
And I pray you will too!

Life Has Been Life’ing… But God Has Been God’ing!

Sally K.

taps mic again… Ummm, Hi! Is this thing still on? Anyone still out there?

If you’ve found your way back to my little corner of the internet, thank you. Truly. It’s been a minute (okay, maybe more than a minute). But life… oh, life has been living! I’ve walked through seasons of deep joy and deeper pain, experienced victories worth dancing over and losses that left me speechless. There have been growing pains, stretching moments, answered prayers, and a few “Lord, why?” cries in between.

And yet, through it all – God has still been God’ing!
Faithful, constant, unchanging, and endlessly patient with me.

When I reflect on why I created this space in the first place, that purpose still burns in my heart: I wanted a place where we could be real about faith, about the messy days and the mountaintop moments. A space where authenticity isn’t just welcomed but necessary. A place to say, “Yes, I love Jesus and yes, some days it’s hard.”

And now I’m back, older, hopefully wiser, and definitely with more testimonies. And I feel led to share them, because someone out there needs to hear this:

✨ It’s never too late to pick back up what God placed in your heart.
Maybe you’ve put down a dream, a blog, a ministry, a creative project, a calling. Maybe life got in the way, fear crept in, or disappointment wore you down. Trust me, I get it, trust me I’ve lived it. But hear this:

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 1:6

✨ God sees you, even when it feels like no one else does.
Your quiet tears, whispered prayers, and even the days you could barely muster a prayer at all—He sees it all.

“You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.” – Psalm 139:3

✨ Small steps are still steps.
Don’t underestimate the power of starting again, even slowly. Progress isn’t always loud; sometimes it’s a whisper of faith.

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” – Zechariah 4:10

✨ It’s okay to begin again differently.
Maybe God is calling you to pivot, refine, or build or rebuild in a fresh way. Starting again doesn’t always mean picking up exactly where you left off – even though that’s okay too; sometimes it means starting better, deeper, and wiser.

✨ You don’t have to be perfect to be purposeful.
Your broken places and your scars are part of your testimony, and guess what? God can use every piece of your story.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9

✨ The world needs what God put inside of you.
There’s someone waiting on the other side of your obedience. Your “yes” could be the very thing that sparks hope, healing, or faith in someone else.

“The entire universe is standing on tiptoe, yearning to see the unveiling of God’s glorious sons and daughters!” — Romans 8:19 (TPT)

Isn’t that beautiful? Creation itself is holding its breath, waiting for you, for what God placed in you to show up, speak out, and shine. Your gifts, your testimony, your creativity, your trials, your story, they’re not just about you. They’re about the people God has called you to reach and bless.

✨ You’re never alone.
Even when it feels like you’re starting over from scratch, the Holy Spirit walks with you in every brave decision to keep going.

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20

As for me, I’m picking this back up with the same passion and purpose that made me start, and even more, because now I’ve seen God hold me in valleys I never imagined I’d walk through.

So, come along (again). Let’s keep it real. Let’s talk about faith when it’s sweet and faith when it’s hard. Let’s explore the struggles and the triumphs: body image, relationships, depression, answered prayers, delayed answers, purpose, healing, and holiness. Let’s remind each other of the joy and freedom that truly comes when we lay it all at Jesus’ feet.

And to whoever needs it today:

“Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.” – Job 8:7

Pick it back up, sis. Pick it back up, bro. Dust it off. Write again, create again, build again, dream again. God is still God’ing, and He’s not done with your story.

I’m excited (and yes, still a little nervous) to share what I’ve learned along the way. And I pray it blesses you as much as it’s blessing me to finally say:

I’m back with a reminder to start with Jesus. Laugh through it. Love like Him. Repeat, because the best days begin and end with Jesus.

Let’s keep going, together by the grace of God!

Love always,
Sally