How can a follower of Christ choose to be joyful when returning to work?

So, June 6, 2014 was a joyous day in history for me this year. Why? Because it marked the beginning of my two-month summer break from teaching! It marked the beginning of sleeping in, laying out by the pool, organizing and cleaning the apartment (Yes--I find that to be a fun task!), trying new recipes--essentially, it marked the birth of a new, more joyful me!

The past year was a stressful year of teaching for me. I was overwhelmed to tears on more occasions than I can count and I was ready to retire from teaching altogether. Harold had to constantly remind me that our joy, as followers of Christ, needs to be rooted in Christ Himself--not in our circumstances. The reason being is that Christ offers us a steadfast source of joy, whereas our circumstances offer us only a shifting source of joy.

It is now almost the middle of July. My summer days are dwindling down and my return to work is looming inevitably in the distance--as unstoppable and unpleasant as a Florida thunderstorm in the summertime. That being said, it's not hard to recognize that I am still (very much) struggling to rightly place my joy in Christ alone as I begin to consider another long school year. I have compiled a short--yet compelling--list of evidence that further proves the reality of my struggle:

1. I can't bring myself to check my work email. Even staring at the icon leaves my stomach in knots...
2. If you were to ask me when I have to go back to work, I wouldn't be able to tell you. I refuse to check the county website to see when I'm actually required to return...
3. My anxiety soars to new heights at the mere sight of back-to-school newspaper inserts...

Clearly, this teacher needs to be taught a lesson in choosing joy. Which leads us to the essential question of this post: How can a follower of Christ choose to be joyful when returning to work? Maybe you're a teacher like me, returning to work after nearly two uninterrupted months off! Perhaps you're returning to work after only a small taste of freedom--a vacation of some sort. Or maybe you're just returning to work from a standard weekend break. Whatever the case, as a follower of Christ, it is possible to return to our jobs with a joyful attitude. However, if you're anything like me, returning joyfully will require some biblical rewiring of your heart and mind.

Whenever my circumstances threaten to steal my joy in Christ, I am always encouraged by this verse in Philippians 4:

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your resonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7)

In whom are we called to rejoice? In the Lord himself--not in circumstances. Our circumstances are not always good, but the Lord is always good. I also appreciate how this verse draws a connection between the human emotions of anxiety and joy. Our joy is affected by our anxiety. Thankfully, in this same verse, we are instructed by God how to eliminate the presence of anxiety: by transforming our anxious worries into prayer requests, thereby receiving the peace of God. I have a propensity towards anxiousness and I know this anxiety often spoils my joy in the Lord. The thought of returning to work--returning to new set of students, a new grade level, and a new curriculum--makes me anxious. But God is inviting me to abide in His joy and His peace as I submit these anxious thoughts to Him in prayer. 

The following verse in 1 Thessalonians 5 echoes the content of Philippians 4:

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God is Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

There it is again! A call to rejoice--to be joyful! Not just some of the time, but all of the time! And I believe this unwavering stance of joy is closely linked to the discipline of prayer and the act of giving thanks to God. My joy in the Lord will be more consistent and steadfast at my job when I am in constant communication with God through prayer. In addition, the joy I experience in my workplace will also be more consistent as I preoccupy my heart and my mind with thanksgiving--actively choosing to thank God for my job in times when I am tempted to despair over the circumstances of my job. 

Finally, Jesus' words recorded in the gospel of Matthew pertaining to the city on a hill remind us that there is a joyous purpose to our vocations. That purpose is to be the visible light of Christ in a dark, sin-plagued world. This is what our Lord says:

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

Jesus has entrusted us with a glorious task--the task of boldly and actively living out our faith by committing ourselves to the good works that God has already prepared for us to accomplish at our individual work places. As a follower of Christ, any opportunity to bring God the glory He deserves is a joyful opportunity. May this verse stir our hearts to respond joyfully, not grudgingly, to the task we have been called to by our precious Lord Himself. 

I cannot say, with complete confidence, that I won't cry (at least once) before having to return to work. But I can say that I desire for this year of teaching to be markedly different from the last. I pray that I will choose the joy of Christ in the midst of trying circumstances. May we all seek to choose and display this joy for the Glory of God--with minds set above.