I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:1b-3
Ask: for joy to free you
When the Israelites labored in Egypt, they felt the unfairness of the system that enslaved them, but what could they do to change it? People often feel the same way about the social forces that control us today. We may notice the oppressive powers of racism, systemic hunger, and poverty, but the problems seem too thorny and multifaceted for us to change them. Sometimes, we devote every ounce of our energy to dismantle these systems, only to feel frustrated when our efforts seem to bog down or go nowhere.
Pause for a moment and notice how your body feels as you read this.
Joy helps people flourish even in adverse circumstances, but it always works to free those who are captive. Today, take some time to reflect on the following questions, perhaps writing in your journal as you do. Ask for God’s guidance as you consider them:
What forces in our society repress your joy?
How do the powers of this world try to cut you off from joy?
How have the people who have shaped you created joy despite these powers?
How does God call your community to create space for freedom, self-expression, and kindness?
How can you create space for others to flourish, too?