Have you ever thought of joy as being revolutionary. In the stories of Mary and Elizabeth, they experienced hope-filled joy, even though they faced many challenges in their lives. They could have worried about the political and social circumstances that they found themselves in. Instead, they chose to see the blessing and the hope that came with knowing that they were loved and cared for by God and that they were God’s agents in the world. 

The fact that we have the ability to experience joy, to choose to experience joy in whatever circumstance we find ourselves, tells us that we have control over our lives. When was the last time you experienced joy, even small joys, in spite of whatever else was going on in your life? How have you chosen joy, to be joyful?