--- title: Searching for Joy description: Caroline Godin reflects on finding true joy in her faith that the Lord will bring her through difficult times. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20231221%20CGodin%201.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/searching-for-joy#) [FAITH](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/faith) # Searching for Joy Dec 21, 2023 7:00:00 AM  |  by [Caroline Godin](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/caroline-godin) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20231221%20CGodin%201.png) *Caroline Godin reflects on finding true joy in her faith that the Lord will bring her through difficult times. * --- #### The Week of Joy  It’s nearly Christmas and we’re in the week of joy. The third week of Advent is all about joy as it starts with lighting the pink candle for [Gaudete Sunday](https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06394b.htm). This year has been a little more challenging to find joy.  Between financial stress, career changes (or losses), parental needs, and kids’ needs, I could use some joy, but it’s not manifesting on its own. It took all the energy I could muster—which wasn’t much—to clean the living room enough to put up a tree.    #### Making Room for Joy  We do an annual cleanout of toys and books and things so there’s room for new toys. Sometimes it works; sometimes not so much. The funny thing is that this year, my teens held sentimental value on old things, and my five-year-old was ready to pitch them.  There was some negotiating, some slipping of things in and out of boxes, and blatant dumping into the trash by the hubby. Lovely times. We can be intense. All family members survived though, no grudges.    #### Searching for Joy  Christmas is my favorite holiday. I’ll don the socks from November through January. I’ll play Christmas music the whole time (Christian Christmas music especially). The nativity goes up the night before Advent starts and comes down after [Candlemas on February 2nd](https://www.saintsfeastfamily.com/copy-of-candlemas-feb-2-1). The tree doesn’t last that long, but it’s up through [Epiphany](https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05504c.htm).  This year, I’m struggling. I’m tired.  But I know the joy of the Lord is my strength ([Nehemiah 8:10](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/nehemiah/8))! I have to hold on to that. I don’t have anything to complain about. My family is well, physically. My parents are doing okay. My kids are fine. Money is… . Our faith is all that matters, right?    ![null](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20231221%20CGodin%203.png?width=1080&height=1080&name=20231221%20CGodin%203.png)   #### The Joy in Faith  Mary didn’t know what would happen when she told Joseph and her parents about the angel’s message. Joseph didn’t know what would happen when he listened to the angel in his dream to marry Mary. Neither of them knew what would happen as they searched for a place to stay moments before Jesus was born.  No angel showed up to point out the manger or tell them wise men were coming or how things would work out. They needed faith in those moments. I can’t imagine how those moments felt, but maybe I can a little. I can’t imagine how it felt to hold Baby Jesus for the first time, but maybe I can a little.  When I look at my kids, I can’t imagine God would ever abandon us. I would never abandon my children and His love is far greater than mine, so something good will come.    #### The Joy in Hope  While I waffle between freaking out and chilling out, I also waffle between prayer and work. There’s a little balance there. We need to have some concern (okay, maybe not anxiety, but some concern), or else how would we take care of the needs of our family? But we also need to have faith and hope.  God is not the god of the dead but of the living ([Matthew 22:32](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/22)). He is of hope, faith, and love ([1 Corinthians 13:13](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/13)). He desires us to come to Him in need. He will provide for us ([Philippians 4:19](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philippians/4)), hear our prayers ([1 John 5:14](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1john/5)), and always be with us ([Matthew 28:20](https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/28)).    > [Click to tweet: > As I light that pink candle, I know it’s not just a symbol from a time long ago. It’s a message, a sign, that our hope for tomorrow is for all time. #CatholicMom](https://ctt.ac/oC8Om)   By clinging to this, I cling to hope. I find joy in this hope. I find joy in my little one’s eyes as he trusts that all is well because we’re taking care of him. He trusts us and we must trust the Lord. We must find that same joy when we look to our heavenly Father. As I light that pink candle, I know it’s not just a symbol from a time long ago. It’s a message, a sign, that our hope for tomorrow is for all time. Our hope in the Lord is eternal as is His Love.    ![null](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20231221%20CGodin%202.png?width=1080&height=1080&name=20231221%20CGodin%202.png) --- Copyright 2023 Caroline Godin Images: Canva ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fsearching-for-joy%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fsearching-for-joy%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fsearching-for-joy%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Searching%20for%20Joy) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fsearching-for-joy%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fsearching-for-joy%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Caroline Godin](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Caroline%20Godin%20Headshot%20-%20Caroline%20Godin.jpg) ### [Caroline Godin](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/caroline-godin) Caroline Godin is a freelance writer, catechist, and martial artist. She is married with 3 children. She enjoys finding new house projects to start and never finish and going camping. She takes a light-hearted view of life and keeps her eyes on eternity. One day, she may be the patron saint of ADHD or procrastination, if she gets around to it. ## Related Blog Articles [ The True Reason for the Season Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/the-true-reason-for-the-season) [ To My Neurodiverse Middle-Schooler Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/to-my-neurodiverse-middle-schooler) [ Thankful for My Villages Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/thankful-for-my-villages) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.