Authors cannot agree on whether writer's block is real or a myth. We all struggle with our words sometimes, though.

Not long ago, my church assigned me to write a series of devotionals based on the lectionary readings for the season. I was working on a devotional using verses from Psalm 126 about "sowing in tears and reaping with shouts of joy", which was published yesterday on PresbyCan. It was an awesome concept, but I struggled with exactly what to say. Eventually, I came up with a list of practical ideas for cultivating joy in today's world. My readers were to rejoice, sing, pray, give, and express gratitude.

But still, the meditation didn't seem quite right. It didn't come full circle and have punch. I decided to move on and work on another devotional, then come back to this one.

I read through the rest of the lectionary Scriptures for the umpteenth time for other ideas, and when I came to 1 Thessalonians 5, my mouth fell open. What did verses 16 through 18 command? None other than to rejoice, pray, and give thanks — exactly matching the practical ideas that I had come up with for cultivating joy. I began to scribble, tying the two Scriptures together.

I cannot take any of the credit for that connection, though. I am certain that the Holy Spirit whispered the inspiration in my ear — and I listened! I did not quench the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit doesn't speak only to writers. The Spirit could whisper an important message to any of us at any time.

For today's Scripture, I quoted the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Other translations say that we are not to "suppress", "smother", "turn away", or "stifle" the Spirit. What beautiful revelations might the Spirit surprise us with if we obeyed this command?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, speak to us. Help us to listen to Your whispers on matters large and small. We are ready. Amen.

All our lives, our fortunes and our moods slide along a spectrum between sorrow's tears and shouts of joy. If we never experienced sorrow, we wouldn't know joy when we felt it, and vice versa. For me, these verses speak honestly of the human condition:

Psalm 126:5-6 – May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves. (NRSV)

God created us as emotional beings, with all that that entails. But that doesn't mean that we have to wallow in sadness or anxiety or pain. Life itself will bring us plenty of those emotions, but there are things that we can do to encourage joy to return afterward and to remain in our hearts for as long as possible. We can help others to cultivate that joy, as well!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (NRSV)

It is the will of God that we be joyful, and Paul's list of ideas for sowing seeds for that harvest of joy is succinct. In that vein, here are some concrete examples of things that we can do today:

• Remember a time when God or a friend helped you and the feeling that that evoked. Rejoice over it again.
• Sing along with a song that makes you happy, perhaps a hymn or a praise song. What joyful times does it bring to mind?
• Pray, hard, for yourself and others. Meld with the Spirit for a time. The prayer need not be positive; if you are feeling sad or angry or doubtful, share that with God. God created emotions, and He will certainly understand them.
• Give of your time or talents. Do so to create joy for others, which is more important than creating it for yourself, but your own satisfaction may just be a side effect.
• Express gratitude to God or another person.

Now, go and garden, sowing those seeds of joy!

Prayer: Creator, help us to cultivate joy in our own lives and in the lives of others. We will rejoice, pray, and give thanks all our lives. Amen.

My husband and I planted our first garden last year. During the COVID-19 shutdown, we had more leisure time than usual and needed a project to keep our minds and hands occupied. Not all of our crop prospered, but the garden held our interest for months and made us want to do better this year.

In early June, I planted two different types of nasturtiums, which are annuals that bloom in a variety of colours. These plants thrive in poor soil, with little water and care. I planted several rows of them, and their stalks and leaves soon grew and grew. Then, one by one, they died. I don't know why. I wound up planting beans and lettuce where the nasturtiums had been.

Imagine my surprise when, in early September, a new nasturtium plant appeared behind the beans — an amazing small miracle.

The prophet Isaiah had heard many stories of mountain-quaking, nation-trembling miracles! God is certainly capable of those big, awesome events. Most of us will never experience a miracle like that — God doesn't usually work that way. But we can watch for His small miracles, like a friend calling when you most need her, a story on the radio that really hits home, and a nasturtium sprouting three months after being planted. Let's watch for them, and be blessed by them as a reminder of all that God can do!

Prayer: Omnipotent God, thank You for miracles big and small. Help us to notice them and recognize Your blessings, for they give us hope. Amen.