I Don’t Want to Become So Good at Surviving That I Forget to Celebrate
After difficult seasons, sometimes we become better at surviving than celebrating.
The wedding at Cana reminds me that Christ meets us in our joy too.
Scripture Focus
John 2:1–2, NRSVUE
“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.”
For months, so much of my attention has been getting ready for Christopher and Sarah’s wedding.
There have been things to make, ceremony details to work through, lists that keep changing, things I suddenly remember at inconvenient times, and plenty of moments when I have wondered how everything will get finished.
Now we are only days away.
This morning, though, I found myself thinking about something that had nothing to do with what was left on my list.
Jesus went to a wedding too.
It made me smile.
I have spent a lot of my faith journey learning how to find Christ in difficult places. I know how to pray when I’m afraid. I know how to ask God for strength when something hurts. I know what it is to come to Him when I don’t know what happens next.
Those parts of faith matter.
But I don’t want to become so good at surviving difficult seasons that I forget how to celebrate the good ones.
Maybe part of my walk with Christ is learning how to do both.
What Does the Wedding at Cana Show Us?
John 2 begins with Jesus, His mother, and His disciples attending a wedding in Cana.
During the celebration, the wine runs out. Mary brings the situation to Jesus. He eventually instructs the servants to fill six stone water jars with water, which becomes wine.
John tells us that this was the first of Jesus’ signs. Through it, Jesus revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
That matters because John’s purpose isn’t simply to tell us that Jesus attended a party. Throughout his Gospel, these signs reveal something about who Jesus is.
So I don’t want to turn Cana into a simple message that says, Jesus wants us to have fun.
There is much more happening in this passage.
But I still find it meaningful that this first sign unfolds in the middle of a wedding celebration.
People had gathered.
A marriage was beginning.
There was food and drink and community.
And Jesus was there.
That has made me think differently about the ordinary celebrations in my own life.
I don’t only need Christ when something has gone wrong.
I can recognize His presence when something is worth celebrating too.
I Don’t Want Survival to Become My Only Language
There are things we learn during difficult times because we have to.
We learn how to keep going when we’re tired.
We learn how to adjust when life doesn’t unfold the way we expected.
We learn how to pray when we don’t have answers.
We learn how to function while carrying things other people may never see.
Those lessons can become so familiar that sometimes survival starts to feel more natural than joy.
When something good happens, we may barely stop before moving on to the next concern.
Or we enjoy it cautiously.
We remind ourselves not to get too excited.
We start thinking about what could still go wrong.
I don’t want to live that way.
Not because I suddenly expect everything to turn out perfectly.
It won’t.
But because something doesn’t have to last forever to be worth celebrating today.
That is what I want to remember this week.
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This Weekend, I Get to Be Mom Too
In a few days, after all these months of preparing, I will actually be standing there.
Christopher and Sarah will be in front of me, and somehow I will be both his mom and the person trying to remember everything I’m supposed to say as their officiant.
I’ve thought a lot about that responsibility.
But once the ceremony is over, I don’t have another job to do with the meaning of the day.
I can hug my kids.
I can watch my grandchildren.
I can talk with family.
I can laugh.
I can eat.
I can look around at all the people who came because they love Christopher and Sarah.
I can celebrate.
I’m sure something won’t go exactly according to plan. With that many people involved, I would probably be more surprised if everything did.
But whatever happens with the little details, they aren’t the reason we’re gathering.
Two people we love are getting married.
That’s worth celebrating.
Joy and Grief Can Sit at the Same Table
Of course, celebration doesn’t erase everything else we’re carrying.
Sometimes an empty chair feels particularly noticeable at a wedding, birthday, Christmas dinner, anniversary, or family gathering.
There can be people we desperately wish were there.
There can be relationships that aren’t what we hoped they would be.
There can be memories attached to a happy day that make us laugh one minute and unexpectedly emotional the next.
I don’t think we have to choose between those feelings.
Scripture never requires us to pretend grief doesn’t exist to experience joy.
Ecclesiastes tells us there is
“a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4, NRSVUE).
Sometimes those times aren’t as neatly separated as we would like.
Sometimes joy and missing someone really do sit at the same table.
I can wish someone were here and still laugh.
I can remember what has been lost and still celebrate what is beginning.
I can carry tenderness for what hurts without allowing it to erase what is good.
That isn’t denial.
It’s simply being human.
Maybe “Thank You” Is Enough
Not every good thing has to become a profound spiritual moment.
Sometimes my response can be very simple.
Thank You, God.
Thank You for this person.
Thank You for this conversation.
Thank You for the ridiculous thing that made us laugh.
Thank You for the meal we shared.
Thank You for the good news.
Thank You for this ordinary summer evening.
Thank You for this wedding.
Psalm 126:3 says:
“The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.”
They rejoiced.
There are days when prayer sounds like Help me.
There are days when it sounds like, “Please give me strength.”
There are days when all I can manage is Stay close.
And then there are days when prayer can simply be:
Thank You.
I want to make room for those days too.
What Is Worth Celebrating in Your Life?
Your celebration doesn’t have to be something as big as a wedding.
Maybe someone you love received good news.
Maybe you finished something that was difficult.
Maybe a child or grandchild did something that made you ridiculously proud.
Maybe you finally saw a friend you’ve been missing.
Maybe dinner turned into one of those conversations where everyone stayed at the table longer than usual.
Maybe you woke up today and realized you actually feel hopeful.
Or maybe somebody made you laugh when you really needed it.
Notice it.
Enjoy it.
Thank God for it.
The difficult things will still receive our attention when they need it.
Today, however, something good may deserve our attention too.
Journaling Prompts
- What is something good in my life right now that I haven’t really stopped to celebrate?
- Have difficult experiences made me cautious about enjoying good things?
- What does genuine celebration look like for me?
- Is there someone else’s joy I could celebrate with them this week?
- What simple “Thank You” would I like to offer God today?
A Prayer for the Good Days Too
Jesus,
I know how quickly I come to You when something is wrong.
Thank You for reminding me that I can come to You with my joy too.
Thank You for laughter, family, friendship, meals shared around tables, good news, new beginnings, and ordinary moments that unexpectedly become memories.
Help me not rush past what is good because I’m already preparing for what might happen next.
When grief comes with me into a celebration, hold both with me.
I don’t need every part of life to be perfect before I can be grateful for something good.
As I prepare for this weekend, help me remember what we’re actually gathering to do.
We’re gathering to celebrate love and commitment.
Let me be there for it.
And when something good happens today, remind me that sometimes a prayer doesn’t need many words.
Sometimes, “Thank You” is enough.
Amen.
Continue Your Journey
If today’s devotional has reminded you how easily we can overlook goodness while concentrating on everything else happening around us, When Gratitude Finds Me First explores an ordinary moment when gratitude appeared unexpectedly and became an invitation to notice what was already good.
Continue with When Gratitude Finds Me First →
If the words “I don’t want to become so good at surviving that I forget to celebrate” resonated with you, Pursuing the Joy God Created for You takes that thought deeper. It reflects on the years I spent believing joy had to wait until everyone else was cared for and everything was finished, and how Psalm 16:11 began changing the way I understood joy.
A Free Resource for Your Journey
The Healing Journey with Christ Resource Library currently includes Scripture-centred resources for prayer, reflection, peace, hope, and encouragement. If one of those would support where you are today, you are welcome to explore the library.
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Call to Connect
What is something good happening in your life right now?
It doesn’t have to be something big. If you’d like, share something you’re celebrating in the comments so we can celebrate with you.
And if this isn’t a joyful season for you right now, you are also welcome to ask for prayer without sharing any private details.
Share Your Story
Has God met you in an unexpected season of joy, celebration, friendship, family, or renewed hope?
Sometimes another person’s story can remind us that difficult chapters aren’t the only chapters we will ever have.
If there is a part of your journey you feel comfortable sharing, your story may encourage someone else. You never need to disclose painful or identifying details.
A Resource for Practicing Gratitude
After difficult seasons, noticing what is good doesn’t always come naturally. Sometimes it helps to have a place to record the small things we don’t want to rush past.
The Christian Gratitude Journal for Women offers guided prompts for practicing gratitude and can be a simple companion as you begin noticing the people, moments, answered prayers, laughter, and everyday gifts worth thanking God for.
It fits beautifully with today’s question:
What simple “Thank You” would I like to offer God today?
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