A few nights ago, dear Danielle and I set out to find some sunken treasure in the ocean. Okay, not really, but we did play an awesome escape room in a box game where we found treasure while solving a bunch of riddles. We found a pretty cheap game, made some pasta at home (you always need a good meal before clue solving), and put on a ten-hour ocean life video on the TV. We had an absolute blast, something we have tried to do on a consistent basis in our marriage. Fun is important to life, we all need to have fun. Sometimes though, we tend to let other things get in the way. When we do that we miss out on having fun, and having fun produces true joy; it’s time for you to create space for joy.

All too often we get really busy. It’s a normal thing that happens, jobs, school, working on things at home; it all can add up very quickly. The thing is, when we start to get busy, our mental health can start to slip. We just go through the motions and let taking care of ourselves slip through the cracks. I believe that injecting joy into your life allows us to fight these mental lows. Joy is one of the fruits of the spirit, meaning that joy comes from our connection to the spirit.

The first step in creating space for joy, is making sure you are connected to the vine.

Our relationship with Jesus is compared to fruits on a vine, if you are not connected to the vine, there is no way to produce the fruit. Jesus needs to be your source. You can look at the many facets of theology, but it all boils down to the fact that you need to be in relationship with Jesus.

Make time daily to be in the word, prayer, and simply listening to what the Holy Spirit is speaking into you.

In my seasons of anxiety and depression, I read scripture and over and over, it jumps out to me and comforts me when I need it. The bible reminds us of the truth about who God says we are. When we realize what God says about who we are, that is when true joy comes.

Step back and choose to create space for joy.

We all like to move, keep going, and accomplish something. I’ve seen people pressuring others during this era of quarantine to achieve or do something with all this free time. While yes you should look at this as opportunity, it’s also a global pandemic, so be sure to invest in yourself rather than only pressuring to produce more.

You need to step back and choose to have fun. You may be bored of Netflix and cooking, but what if you created space for joy? Watch a Christmas movie and bake some cookies. Play a board game and add in some extra elements of themed music. Have a dance party, even if it’s just you. Create a space for you to have some good fun. Don’t worry about the dishes, don’t look at the news stream on your phone, don’t worry about what people might think; have fun.

I love having fun. It’s sometimes been looked down on as me being childish, but I have learned that life is better when I create space for joy. Dear Danielle and I have chosen to find fun things like an escape room in a box, reading a Goosebumps choose-your-own adventure book out loud, and play Rock Band late into the night. Creating a space for joy allows me to get closer to Jesus, because I think Jesus would want us to laugh a little and not care about what others think about us.

Have fun and create a space for joy, you’re not going to regret it.

-Joshua Thomas

About the Author: Joshua Thomas is a writer by day and superhero by night. When he’s not writing and crimefighting, you can find him reading a good book, sipping warm tea, taking pictures, or dreaming. The young writer doesn’t fully know what he’s doing, but is enjoying the journey of it all. You can tweet memes at him on Twitter @joshua_thomas__ or follow his hipster photos and Jack Kerouac musings on Instagram @joshua_thomas__