Insights

If people were honest, they would tell you that as a kid they never wanted the Cracker Jack popcorn for its nutritional content. It was the hidden prize. The same goes for the overpriced sugary cereal. It is the unknown prize that excites you and makes you want to eat so many bowls of cereal you make your stomach sick. ( I may have had this childhood experience, but I will not share the details.) Joy  can be like the hidden prize. It can be hidden by the day to day grind. Joy can be the hidden prize that you see only at the end of the day.

The secret is to make the daily grind and the things you do everyday to be joy. Adam Grant in his book, Hidden Potential, says, “..the best way to unlock hidden potential isn’t to suffer through the daily grind. It's to transform the daily grind into a source of daily joy.”  I find the practice of gratitude and thanksgiving sets my heart to look for the bits of joy throughout the day. Looking for the hidden joy and praising God as I go, sets my heart to anticipation of good things.

Jesus in  John 15 shares where hidden joy can be found. Jesus states a purpose for his teaching and commands, and it is that His joy may be our joy and His desire for our joy to  be complete or mature. 

“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. ” (The Message) 

Jesus entwines the concept of love, joy and obedience to Him.  Verse 17 states a directive, “Love one another”. Finding the hidden joy in loving others and being obedient to the work the Lord has called us to can be a daunting task. Sometimes doing life together in a community we often forget to find joy in living life together, but Jesus pulls the thread and says, “”Love each other as I have loved you.” As we look for the hidden joy in our day to day, let’s remember to love others and look for the hidden joy.

Leah Rabb
Elementary Principal
Logos Preparatory Academy