“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
– Romans 15:13

Can you remember the feeling of pure joy? It may have been years ago, yet the memories are still strong. A mud puddle on a rainy day; spending an entire summer building a tree house or throwing a ball endlessly onto the roof of the house and catching it as it rolled off. We didn’t need a watch growing up. If the sun was up, we were working hard or playing hard. When the porch light came on, it was time to begin shutting it down. Somewhere, the ability to play and have fun has been lost! Too many of our athletes have lost hope. They are easily discouraged, they get frustrated, and worst of all, they quit. Is it possible for our players to experience joy in the sport they play in addition to working hard to get better? I know the answer is yes, because I’ve seen it happen too many times.

God wants us to experience joy in our lives too. It’s easy to lose our joy for living and serving Him. We bog down in earning a living, raising a family, and distractions steal our time. Like the athlete who has forgotten how to have fun, we can lose hope. We get discouraged and frustrated. We must fight the ongoing urge to quit. God made us, so He knows us like no other. He has provided us with exactly what we need to fill our tanks. When we know Jesus and have a relationship with Him, we can find hope. When the power of the Holy Spirit flows through us, we can be energized and restored. Have you lost your joy? The answer is only a conversation away—talk with Jesus!

Heavenly Father, I want to experience the joy You have planned for me. Help me to seek You with everything I have. Amen.