Spreading Jelly and Joy Makes Life Sweeter

Spreading jelly and joy are very similar. I arrived at this earth-shattering conclusion recently when my friend was having a bad day. “I’m struggling, Karen. Please pray for me to have joy again.” I knew what she meant. I’ve experienced those sad teary days too, and they’re no fun. So we prayed together.

Later that day as I thought about our conversation, I realized that joy is a lot like the jelly on my PB & J. The more I spread it around, the smoother it gets. It makes life taste better, and it’s easier to share with a friend. That glob of jelly won’t spread itself! I must do something with what I have.

“Then the Lord said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ ‘A staff,’ he replied. The Lord said, ‘Throw it on the ground.’ Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it” (Ex. 4:2-3 NIV).

God was showing Moses that He could use what Moses had in his hand to bless someone. We all have something in our hand, and God desires to use it. How has God blessed you? Use that to bless someone else. Spread joy with a smile, a word of encouragement, a prayer, your talent or skill, your time, a listening ear, meeting a practical or financial need, sharing a victory after a battle, and your hope in Christ.

The key to a continuous flow of joy is to keep spreading it around. Don’t be a stinky Dead Sea that never gives out. Be a free-flowing life-giving Jordan River, and don’t allow self-pity to block the flow. Say it with me. “Today, I choose joy!”

My peanut butter and jelly sandwich satisfies my palate much better when I smooth the jelly all over the bread. Likewise, I experience joy when I extend it to those around me. So don’t keep your jelly or joy to yourself! Practice spreading jelly and joy every day. Life is just sweeter that way.

“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty” (Jer. 15:16 NIV).

“…his true friends spread the joy…” (Ps. 63:11 MSG).