The JOY Challenge: Day Two — Shifting Gears (literally)

I'm deliberately finding joy for forty days. To start from the beginning click here.

 

This morning my husband and I set our for a bike ride. A brilliant blue sky hung above us and the first kiss of fall found its way onto our cheeks as we began to zig-zag down the trail.

Biking hasn't always been easy for me (okay, never). I do enjoy it—especially on flat pavement. But we live in a hilly part of the country and every ride is full of ups and downs (anyone else feel a spiritual analogy coming on?).

My husband is a great biker and my big break through came when he taught me how to use my gears. You see, I had been doing everything in the hardest gear. I was showing off, really. I thought if I could tackle the biggest, baddest hill in that gear then I must be good.

But that's just silly. And I understood why when I learned you can make it easier to pedal just by a little flick of your fingers. Now my gear fits the terrain...I can adapt, shift, make the most of of where I am at the moment.

And when I flip it into just the right gear and it feels a little bit like flying...I feel JOY.

God has been given me some "gear lessons" in the rest of my life the last few months too. As on my mountain bike, I can be a bit intense. I think, "I'll just do it all in the hardest gear. That will prove what a good little Christian I am." Can anyone say "craziness"?

Instead the One Who Loves Me is gently showing me how to shift, adapt, allow seasons of rest with seasons of pushing hard. It has changed everything for me.

And when I flip my heart into just the right gear with Him and it feels a little bit like flying...I feel JOY.

  

p.s. Something else that brings me joy is a story of redemption—God making beauty of our brokenness. My dear friend and fellow (in)courage writer Sarah Markley is sharing hers this week. Please visit her blog, The Best Days of My Life, and support her as she takes this leap of faith so other women can heal.

Would you like to join me in the Joy challenge? Just share one thing that brings you joy. (If you're a subscriber remember to go to http://holley.dayspring.com to do so.) I'll have random giveaways for people who comment or subscribe during the forty days. And you never know when it could be you...  

 

Comments

[Emily]

Thanks for visiting my blog, Holley! I love sitting by a nice firepit too.

I find joy when I get together with friends I haven't seen in awhile, and we laugh and feel like no time has passed at all :)

[Rebecca]

Love this analogy.

Going to be trying to do some biking soon. The gear thing is something I need to learn both literally and spiritually.

Joy today was watching my little soapy toddler splash around in her bath.

[Jennie]

I find joy in reconnecting with friends. No matter the time we have spent apart, I enjoy the company. I also find joy in a great cup of coffee, no matter the time of day.

[Betty]

First I want to say you bring me joy. I am not just saying this to win anything. This has been a tough year for me, I am trying to find my way back, and you have helped. So thank you for the joy!
Betty

[amy]

Seeing God redeem my mistakes brings me tremendous joy!

[Linda]

How great Holley! I did exactly the same thing when we first started bike riding, but I was confused about which was the easier gear. I thought I was putting in easy, but it was the hardest one.
We just went grocery shopping, and I feel joy at the way the Father faithfully provides with such abundance.
Is it okay to join you on my blog with this forty day challenge?

[Hillary @ The Other Mama]

I am so excited for your joy challenge! And I love this analogy. I need someone to teach me about bike gears, and I always need to know more about God's gears. Thanks for the reminder to lean on Him in the tough terrain. Love this, Holley!

[~Grace & Peace]

Day two: Being led to inspirational blogs that challenge me and make me grow.

[Angela Nazworth]

Oh Holley, I loved, loved, loved this. Great analogy and I love how you are embracing the challenge to discover and embrace joy---true joy not a fleeting happiness. You are such an inspiration.

[Sarah Markley]

beautiful metaphor, holley. i love the picture of you.

my joy?
my girls.
my heart when it's right before God.
thinking about all that He's done for me, despite me.

love you.

[Fiona]

Today's Joy bringer - waking to find emails in my inbox from far-off friends! And the feeling of achievement when I have completed the ironing - most hated household job!!

[Rhonda Turner]

I find joy when I am studying the Bible and realize a new revelation about "HIS WORD" and how perfect it is. I also find joy in singing. I would love to improve my voice and be able to sing for "HIM". I have been blessed with an awesome daughter who loves God, which is an enormous blessing in itself.

[Debbie]

I found a peace and joy I never knew. I am recovering from surgery for thyroid cancer. I knew I was blessed with my support from my family, friends and church family, but I never really felt as loved as I have felt in the last month since my diagnoses and subsequent surgeries. I am looking for your Healing Rain book. One of my local book stores does not carry it, so I am going to check a couple of others here in town. If not, then I will see about ordering it on-line. Thank you for sharing your joy with us.

[Verna]

A beautiful day filled with bright sunshine and a cloudless baby blue sky fills me with joy!

[Marjorie Baldwin]

Hi Holley: Am so enjoying your JOY articles. How it enlightens my heart and makes me think of the good ole days when I was teaching children in VBS. Since I read your first article I have had a VBS song going through my mind - I have the JOY, JOY, JOY,JOY down in my heart,WHERE- down in my heart,WHERE- down in my heart, etc. Are you familiar with this song? If so, bet you are singing it. The second verse is about the love of Jesus and the song ends with down in my heart to stay. You do know that the longer we serve Him the sweeter He grows. Blessings to you and your hubby. Sincerely, Marjorie

[Nancy Stewart]

It rained at my house today and I was joyful. It was good to see it tain

[Muzette]

Today after work, picking up my daughter from school and going to the gym, I pulled into our small town city park and got on the swings with my daughter. Side by side we gently flew through the air and I closed my eyes and leaned back. It was almost like being rocked by God, His gaze in the sunlight, and the wind His gentle touch. Such a simple joy.

[Carol]

Holley - When I read these words, they resounded in my heart as though I had just spoken them..."I have a confession. Joy doesn't come naturally to me. Empathy, yes. Guilt, yes. But joy, not so much. I'm not sure why this is exactly. Biology, theology, who knows." I have always been critical of myself because I thought maybe it was a fault in me and I've always wanted to be one of those women who just walk into a room and light it up - but the truth is, I am not that person. And I am learning that empathy and understanding and yes, guilt, are just as much a gift and that I need to embrace them as the part of God HE wants to express through me. I will embark on this journey with you and will pray for you and thank God for you as I change my gears each morning on my bike ride. (Also not a natural)

[Lauresa Hollenbeck]

Joy. It's mine; noOne can steal it.
Today, My glimpses of Joy:
**My Mom & Dad's voice on the other end of the phone line.
**Patience was my friend today.
**A couple rounds of Gut-Laughter.
**Zachary's first day of kindergarten.

Ok, I'll stop. :-) Blessings to you, Holley!!

[Janet F. Broyles]

It brought me joy to read in your article that... "Instead the One Who Loves Me is gently showing me how to shift, adapt, allow seasons of rest with seasons of pushing hard. It has changed everything for me."

God has me in a season of resting and pushing in my normal activities~sometimes I have to do these things simultaneously and sometimes I must alternate resting and pushing.
This is due to a cancer diagnosis in November 2008, surgery in December 2008, and radiation in January/February 2009.
I have learned that it is okay to have extended times of rest and, in fact, they are essential to my physical, emotional, and spiritual health! Sometimes I have to push physically to do what needs to be done in order to get well and yet simultaneously rest in my inner spirit.
Sometimes I have to push myself to rest! What a paradox!

These things have brought me joy in this season of great trial:
**God Himself
**my wonderful Mom
**prayers of family and friends
**things that people have written on my CarePage
**a two-thumbs-up report from my oncologist/gynecologist in June

Love & prayers to everyone,
Janet

[Laurie]

My children's smiles bring me joy!

[Maria Jones-Davidson]

Holley, Thank you for your analogy about bike gear and life gear. Just love this analogy and reminds me of the rough edges in my life at times and how I need to master the road of life by a change of gear when I need to . . . Like the fact that when you hit the right gear causing you to just soar or fly you feel the joy ! ! ! Yes, sounds terrific! I find such comfort & joy when my husband and I go out to see the ducks at the lakeside and throwing bread at them at the same time. Once again thank you Holley for this wonderful time.

[Linda]

Holley,
Thanks for sharing with us.

Things that bring joy to my heart:
*Writing to encourage others
*Making my son smile
*Encouraging my husband, son, family, friends, and strangers
*Eating fat-free chocolate frozen yogurt
*Spending quiet time with God, listening to his voice and writing down what I hear

[Debbie Weasenforth]

Day #2: I found joy in traveling. I'm a premium field auditor so I spend alot of time in my car traveling back and forth to the insureds locations. Yesterday, I was "scanning" stations and came across Focus on the Family. I listened to Tony Evans who was speaking about No More Excuses. I was so overcome with joy (and tears) that I literally thought I was going to have to pull my car off the side of the road.

[Kristina]

I have been sick for awhile and because of that have skipped my normal 2 mile evening walk for sometime now. This past week I have been trying to get back into my routine. Yesterday it was sooo hard starting the walk. I felt like I wanted to turn around and go home. My joy came when I finished the walk & felt better than I did when we started. I also was able to enjoy the sunset on the way home - joy!