Joy in the Journey: Multi-tasking Emotions

"We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.  Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;  in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything."

-2 Corinthians 6:10

Teaching often requires emotional multitasking.

In a single day, you may celebrate a student’s success while carrying concern for another who is struggling. You may feel gratitude for your calling while also grieving exhaustion. These emotions don’t take turns. They arrive together, overlapping, sometimes unresolved, and typically with a great deal of inner conflict and pain.

I can think of no other individual who knew the depth of multitasking emotions more than Paul. In 2 Corinthians 6, Paul describes this reality with honesty. He describes the depths of despair and experiences of hardship, yet contrasts those with the heights of God and glory. Indeed, he invites and welcomes those hardships in as the experiences of ministry. This part of Scripture gives us language for this kind of layered living. Paul writes of being “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” This is not emotional contradiction; it is spiritual maturity. Joy, in this biblical sense, is not a feeling we experience or maintain, but a deeper orientation of trust that can coexist with sorrow and all hardships.

Unfortunately, we've often adopted a very harmful notion that we can move on to joy and flourishing after we've gotten over our problems. If we just solve one problem or challenge in our ministry or classrooms, then all will be well, and we will be joyful in our work. Therein lies the problem: problems in ministry are ministry. Problems in teaching are the work of teaching. How often this mindset hurts us, our students, and those with whom we work and serve.

Thankfully, Christmas reminds us that joy was never meant to replace grief in this world.

When Christ came, joy arrived alongside fear, hardships, uncertainty, and pain. The shepherds rejoiced, yet they returned to the same fields. Mary treasured joy even as she pondered things she did not yet understand. Paul experienced the greatest of hardships and yet still rejoiced. Joy did not erase the difficulty of their current circumstances.

This multitasking joy invites us to release the pressure to feel one thing at a time aiming for happy, peaceful classrooms and relationships. It is the joy of knowing God is at work even when outcomes are incomplete and hearts are heavy. God meets us in the full complexity of our emotional lives. Joy is not diminished by grief, but it is often deepened by it.

Remember: you do not have to choose between sorrow and joy. You can carry both.

Are You a Multi-Tasker?

How does my understanding of joy change when I allow it to coexist with exhaustion or disappointment?

When have I felt pressure to choose between being honest about what’s hard and allowing myself to experience joy?

Do I unintentionally communicate that students must perform "happiness" to be valued or successful?

Prayer

God of all comfort and all joy, thank You that I do not have to perfect my heart for You to meet me. Anchor my joy deeply, not in my emotions, but in Your presence. Teach me to rejoice without denying what is hard. Let Your joy strengthen me as I teach and guide my students. Amen.