Choose a Cheerful Heart even in Trying Times: Living with Joy When the World Presses In

Hi sweet mamas! Today, I want to talk about something that’s a little raw, real, and something us Christians are striving for all the time, but which often feels harder to access than we'd like to admit:

JOY

Now, you may be asking yourself: Holleigh, I already feel joy! I feel happy in my everyday life! I've got it all together! I smile, I laugh...life is good!

Life is good...right?

But then, when we zoom out and start to take in the noise all around us, that joy starts to collapse. People on social media scream about all the bad things happening in the world, calling Christians bad people, criticizing our government, saying that if we don’t jump on the woke bandwagon, we are the literal scum of the earth. 

Ouch. Goodbye Joy.

I don’t know about you, but that can be real quick to steal my joy. Sharing my life online, I’m constantly subject to all the countless opinions of people that I don’t know. I know this is the trade off that comes by pursuing my God-Given calling to minister His Word on public online forums, but it still gets to me sometimes...It’s exhausting, mama! 

But when the world is testing you, when things have got you down, what is it that we’re still called to do? 

Find joy.

Real joy. The kind that only comes from the Lord. The peace that surpasses all understanding. Nothing in this life will fix you or heal you. Hobby Lobby may be a close second, mamas! But truly, God is the one who gives us the joy. There’s a song I remember singing as a kid in Sunday School that went like this:

“I got the joy, joy, joy, jy down in my heart… to stay. And I’m so happy… I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart.”

Really, we understand it best as kids! It's only when the crashing worldly realities we confront as adults that start to make us doubt it. We need to access to simple, pure faith of childhood. When we have God in our lives, when we accept Him as our Savior, the joy and peace we feel is quite literally our inheritance! Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength! This is what’s entitled to us when we become children of God.

So then, how do we claim this joy? 

Surround yourself with fellow believers. Pray all the time. Go to church. Read your Bible. And really practice it. Consume positive Christian content. Don't engage with or consume demonic pop culture or toxic fake news. When you feel yourself getting overwhelmed, stop for a couple minutes and breathe in and breathe out. Pray. Ask God to take the stress from you and focus on joy.

So Mamas...What brings you joy? For me it’s Hobby Lobby, Jesus, baking bread, creating floral arrangements from clippings from my garden, embroidering Bible verses into the insides of my children's clothing...just any little thing that can make me feel grounded to God and His Word and His Earth and His Light and His Love and My Hands and His Hands.

And my beautiful family of course!

I think about those things when the news is overwhelming, or people criticize me, or I just feel plain run down! Remember that you control how you feel.

Will you stew in negativity? Or will you grab a coffee, run out to Hobby Lobby, and worship God through it all?

DIY “Joy of the Lord” Scripture Frame

Inspired by Nehemiah 8:10 — “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”

This craft becomes a visual reminder in your home when the noise of the world feels overwhelming.

What You’ll Need

• A simple wood or white frame (5x7 or 8x10 works beautifully)

• Neutral cardstock or watercolor paper

• Floral clippings (real or faux)

• Mod Podge or craft glue

• Gold paint pen or black calligraphy pen

• Optional: twine, ribbon, or linen fabric backing

• Optional: pressed flowers (you can press your own from the garden!)

You can all these supplies at Hobby Lobby!

Step 1: Create Your Background

If using fresh flowers from your garden:

1. Press them inside a heavy book for 5–7 days.

2. Once dried, arrange them softly in one corner of your cardstock.

If using faux florals:

• Trim small pieces and lay them in a gentle arch or border shape.

Keep it simple and peaceful — think soft, not busy.

Step 2: Write the Scripture

In the center of the page, hand-letter:

“The Joy of the Lord is My Strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10

If hand-lettering feels intimidating:

• Lightly pencil the words first.

• Trace over with a paint pen or marker.

• Or print the verse in a soft serif font and glue it onto the page.

Let this be imperfect. Handmade is holy, mama.

Step 3: Secure Your Florals

• Lightly glue your pressed flowers into place.

• Let dry completely before placing inside the frame.

• Optional: Add a small twine bow at the top for a farmhouse touch.

  
  

Step 4: Pray Over It

Before hanging it:

Pause.Breathe in.Breathe out.

Pray something simple:

“Lord, when my joy feels stolen, remind me that You are my strength. Let this

home be filled with Your peace.”

Why This Matters

When social media feels loud…When criticism feels personal…When the world feels upside down…

We anchor ourselves.

Not in culture. Not in headlines. Not in opinions.

But in truth.

Joy isn’t the absence of chaos. It’s the presence of Christ in the middle of it.

And sometimes reclaiming it looks as simple as:

• Glue on your fingers

• Flowers from your yard

• A verse written in shaky handwriting

• And a whispered prayer

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That’s worship too, sweet mama!

Share your prayers and blessings - and your New Year's Goals!- with the Home Sweet Holleigh community! Comment below or engage on social media! Find me on Instagram and TikTok at @homesweetholleigh

Check out all the supplies you need for this DIY project at Hobby Lobby!

Gray Barnwood Open Frame

Succulent Cardstock Paper Pack

Monochromatic Dried Pressed Flower Set

Chrome Dual Tip Paint Marker

remember to always find meaning in the little things

and

surround yourself with only God's Good Messages

and

reject worldly corruption

and

fight through the noise