This week’s devotional is a message of sound, time-tested encouragement from our very own Jessica Lawson.

Choose Joy

In baseball, mistakes happen — a dropped fly ball, a missed tag, a bad at-bat. Great players learn a powerful lesson early on: you can’t get stuck replaying the last play in your mind. Instead, you reset your focus and get ready for the next play.

Life works the same way. We all drop the ball sometimes. We miss opportunities, say the wrong thing, or feel stuck replaying our failures over and over. But here’s the good news — your next play is always waiting for you.

Philippians 4:4 reminds us, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Notice Paul doesn’t say “Rejoice when life is perfect” or “Rejoice when you never mess up.” He says, always. Happiness is a choice. Joy is a decision.

So today, when frustration or disappointment tries to bench you, remember: you get to choose your attitude. Don’t stay stuck in the last inning. Shake it off, look up, and choose joy for your next play.