Last week I watched a trailer for a new documentary series coming out soon. As I listened to the narrator explain how he hoped traveling around the world would help him finally find happiness, I tilted my head and squinted my eyes. Why was this so familiar? I wondered. I watch a lot of trailers and consume a lot of content about pop culture in general, but I was pretty sure I hadn’t heard of this show before.
Later, as I watched a different TV show about a couple going on a journey to find happiness, it hit me. The series being promoted in that trailer was new to me, but the concept was not. So many of our stories — both the ones we see in movies, television, and books and the ones we tell ourselves about our own lives — center around happiness only discovered by leaving home.
Don’t get me wrong. I love traveling and believe it can be educational, refreshing, and even transformative. I’ve heard from and connected with God many times during trips outside my town, my state, and my comfort zone. And sometimes I feel such an intense desire to get away, to be anywhere but here, that rather than drive straight home after work or errands or dropping my kids off at their schools, I take a detour and keep on driving for just a little bit longer.
But sometimes we can’t get away. We can’t escape the confusing or crushing or simply mundane. Sometimes our budgets or our responsibilities keep us at home. Meanwhile, the world seems to keep its most wonder-full experiences for anywhere but here. Sometimes we desperately need a break. We deeply crave a change of pace, and we ache for adventure or long for lounge chairs by the pool — but we don’t have vacation days or childcare or gas money. Sometimes we’re stuck at home because we can’t find a travel companion or the courage to go on our own. Sometimes we’re busy or we’re sick.
Sometimes we can’t get away.
So what then? Are we to assume that happiness is out of reach? Are we to accept our existence is somehow less than because we can’t travel the world like a rich actor or escape to a magical land like a movie character?
Obviously not.
Although, when I get that urge to run away from home — for an hour, for a day, for the rest of my life — this doesn’t seem so obvious. When I spend my time and energy looking outside and elsewhere for what I need, I can miss what’s possible, what might already be happening right here and now.
Last month I was supposed to go on a retreat with my fellow (in)courage writers. After a challenging and exhausting season, I was so ready to soak up every minute of beautiful scenery, delicious food, and nobody needing a thing from me for a few days. And, of course, I was nearly giddy with excitement to see my beloved friends who live annoyingly far away from my house. I fully anticipated connecting with them and with God as my cup overflowed with joy and gratitude once again. But then I got sick.
And did I immediately take a deep breath, look for the blessings in my broken plans, and thank God for . . . anything? Did I remember in that moment (or that entire weekend) that joy can be found wherever God is, and God is everywhere? Did I seek out ways to connect with Him and let Him renew my hope and fill up my cup right there in my bedroom or my backyard?
No, friends, I did not.
At least, not immediately. Because I’d gotten caught up in the idea that happiness was a plane ride away, that distance was the only solution for a lack of clarity, and that peace was only possible with solitude and silence and a complete break from my responsibilities.
Thankfully, God knows I watch many TV shows and He kindly connected the dots for me with real and fictional characters forgetting that life happens wherever we are. And with that, He reminded me that He offers us joy and hope and peace and purpose wherever we are, no matter how boring or stressful or hard. The Lord gently pointed me back to the truth that happiness isn’t out there.
Instead, joy is found in Him, right here.
“I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.”
Psalm 16:8-9a
Getting away is a gift and can be a way for God to bless us or speak to us in a new way. But it’s not the only way for us to experience joy, to learn or grow, to be okay. Sometimes we can’t get away, and when that happens, we can remember that God—and all the joy, hope, peace, and love He offers us freely—is right here.
If you’re feeling weary or worried and wishing for a break, an escape, a way to get away, remember that no matter where you are, God is right there with you. He’s with us in our regular, everyday lives, offering fresh mercies and another step on the path He’s made for us. On the beach or on the phone with the doctor’s office, in a luxurious hotel or in traffic, taking in the sights or taking the kids to school — wherever we are, so is God. And where God is, so is our joy.
Thank you for writing what’s inside my heart and soul. I love our God and seek him everyday in my walk. I suffer from anxiety and depression and recently celebrated one year on a new job that stressed me out to the point that my health was compromised. But God!! He is helping me to overcome. I cannot get away. I have to deal with this head on with Him as my guide. Thank you for your healing words. God bless you.
Angela, thank you for sharing part of your journey with us here. I’m so grateful we’re loved by a God who meets us exactly where we are!
“wherever we are, so is God. And where God is, so is our joy.”
So simple…so profound…and yet, so hard to remember. Thank YOU for reminding me!
And, also, it *almost* felt like a “Well, DUH!” moment when the Psalmist says, “No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.” :). No wonder….
(missed seeing you like crazy, my friend. EVERYONE missed you like crazy! xoxo)
No wonder is right! 🙂 And you know I missed you!!!
Mary, these are the words I needed to read this morning!
I’m so glad, Jill. Praying you feel God’s presence today!
Mary, I am chuckling at your wonderful words of truth! We are coming out of a 2 year stress filled season of change of staff at our church. In the back ground of that angst God inspired my boss to honor 3 workers who have been with the company for over 35 years. I being 1 of them am literally waking up in our favorite hotel on the beach this am. We’ve anticipated these 5 days of strolling the beach for 5 months now. It is wonderful. But it is exactly what we need because God is with us & we are recounting how He was with us in all the hard & heartache of the past 2 years & years of our lives really! Blessings!
Ruth, I love that your boss is honoring you with this gift! May it be a blessing your soul, refreshing and filling your heart!
This is so true, Mary! We can be content right here, right now. And we can dig into God and his gifts, without ever leaving home. Thank you for your sweet reminders!
You’re so welcome, Irene. I need the reminder myself!
Joy in the midst of regular days is just what I need revealed to me emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually and financially.
No one can tell another person how to find their way to Joy. But I find Joy in my relationship with God. Because I have decided to accept His unconditional, unwavering and unyielding Love for me Eternally. So, I embrace my Joy in the Lord.
Joy is my strength and my foundation for truthfulness. I’m the beneficiary of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (self restraint). These wonderful divine seeds planted in my spiritual heart make me who God created me to become for the Kingdom of God.
Joy is not the same as happiness. Joy cannot be taken from God’s children (Believers – Christ Followers). The enemy will try to deceive us all the time because that’s his pitiful nature and his job. Please help me to remind others and to remind myself that our Joy is secure and eternal.
Thank you Lord for planting Joy in my Heart.
Brenda
Your Sister in Christ
Joy in the regular—yes, Brenda, you’re so right! Thank God He gives us that joy so freely.
Mary,
Joy is felt internally. For example worshipping God and remembering our Lord Jesus Christ dying on the cross to save us from sins. Lately I’ve felt the urge to just get away. Want to go somewhere sit around & be with hubby. But that will only give me temporal happiness not true joy. We will eventually have to come back to our daily grind. Trying to be content & even a bit joyful about my current job as I await an answer back on an interview. Learning to say Thank you Lord more often. Even for the job I don’t like. God is the one who gave it to me. Because God is in it I can rejoice.
Blessings 🙂
“Because God is in it I can rejoice” — yesssss, I love those words and that truth, Beth! I hope you get good news about that interview soon!
Mary,
Thanks. I pray for you all also. Glad you are feeling better.
Blessings 🙂
This is such a beautiful, honest, and meaningful devotion. As summer quickly approaches I hear the call in TV and streaming ads to go “somewhere, anywhere”. Watching or listening to a 30 second message of sun, sand, and escape can cause my mind to wander and my heart to be discontent with where I am. Sometimes it takes a while for me to snap out of my need to escape to remember the message in today’s devotional. The next time this happens I will remember “wherever we are, so is God. And where God is, so is our joy.”
Praying God meets you right where you are today, Alecia. 🙂
Hello, Mary,
Thank you so much for your message today. I am a perfectionist too. I don’t know how to deal with it sometimes as my husband is the exact opposite of me. I tell him we are The Odd Couple as he is Oscar and I am Felix. Your message spoke to me about trying to get rid of perfectionism. How do we do that? How have you dealt with it? Would you please send me an email with suggestions, please?
Your article is just what I needed to read today. Thank you and God bless you.