On a recent trip to America, my Jon bought me a lovely present. He knows my penchant for fun plastic jewelry and found a great little sunny yellow ring with the word ‘JOY’ written on it. Fabulouso.

I was wearing it today as I was doing the housework. It started to irritate my finger as water and cleaning fluid got trapped under it, so I took it off. It’s easy for joy to be like that. When life irritates us, joy is the first thing to go. We sling it into the cupboard of our minds like an out-of-season coat.

Have you noticed too that when you feel low the very last thing you want is a tactlessly exuberant person around you, singing gustily and turning perfect pirouettes in mid air? It’s annoying as stink. You want to give such people a deft punch, (in love) powerful sedatives, or clear instruction to go and be Darcey Bussell elsewhere.

But the Bible is clear that joy is a weapon. Praise is a weapon. Thankgiving is a weapon.

You see, joy doesn’t just irritate a grumpy you, it irritates Satan. It bugs him senseless to see God’s children refusing to give up hope and giving ‘thanks in all circumstances.’ I know. I’m getting right up his nose with that at the moment. It’s irrational to praise God in every season of life, especially if you are going through divorce, bereavement, separation, sickness, depression, anxiety or despair. Totally irrational. And yet very, very humbling and attitude-changing.

Dancing in a time of sorrow, confusion, lonliness or mourning feels odd to many of us, and yet it is sometimes exactly the medicine our spirit longs for. The other day, I tried it. When no-one was looking, (not even me) I turned up my music in the kitchen.

Keeping one eye on the beef cooking on the hob, I started to dance. (I’m sorry to give you such a disturbing mental image, but it’s true.) I told God to watch. I said, “Look at me God! I’m dancing. In spite of the fact that I’ve been waiting to move house for 6 months and every day there are more delays and complications… I’m dancing. In spite of the fear that my husband is soon going to have to move 240 miles without me and the children…. I’m dancing! In spite of feeling in my heart that my life is on pause… I’m dancing! In spite of the sadness that the people I love the most are the furthest away…. I’m dancing! In spite of not understanding what You are doing in me… I know You’re there… so I’m dancing!”

Do you know what happened?
I caught sight of myself in the shiny surface of the microwave. I looked a right twonk, but I actually saw a genuine smile beginning to appear.
A little bit of joy came creeping back into my spirit, steathily at first, then in a big wave.

You see, God wasn’t the only one watching. I reckon a few thousand other spiritual beings were too.

I smiled again, until I realised I could smell burning beef.