"It is not in the shore wherein we learn to swim nor catch a fish, it is in the deep --
out of our comforts, that we learn and conquer"
"What's the story behind your username?" Someone asked me.
I wasn’t sure why this person asked me that question and I’m uncertain if people generally have a story behind their usernames, but I do. So here’s the story.
People would usually tell me that I have a vibrant personality and that I could make a room pop by just being there. And although this may sound weird coming from me, a few months ago, Joyce struggled with joy – I went through depressing times. I isolated myself and stopped talking to almost everyone. I also deactivated all of my social media accounts.
When I finally got around to it, I changed my username to “aworldofjoyce” It was supposedly “aworldofjoys” but that username is already taken. Hence, I used my name instead, and as a pun too.
It reminded me to fill my world with so much joy that it would radiate and translate to the world around me.
I found it profound that the very thing that people recognized me for was the same thing that the enemy tried to steal from me. He wasn’t successful though, if for anything, this season of brokenness taught me that my joy shouldn’t rest in people, things, and/or circumstances. My joy should only rest in the One who loves me most.
I’ll end this lengthy introduction with an excerpt from one of my favorite song:
If my heart could tell a story
If my life would sing a song
If I have a testimony
If I have anything at all
No one ever cared for me like Jesus
His faithful hand has held me all this way
and when I’m old and grey
and all my days are numbered on the earth
let it be known
in You alone
my joy was found.
- Steffany Gretzinger