Celebrate Anyway – Finding Joy in Hard Seasons

Today, our youngest son, Zion, turns four. His birthday always stirs up memories, some joyful, some hard, and this morning God whispered a reminder I want to share with you: celebrate anyway.

Zion’s birth was nothing like we imagined. It was 2021, and I had contracted the virus that no one wanted at the time. I was doing well until my blood pressure suddenly spiked to dangerous levels. I was admitted to the hospital, hooked up to machines, and isolated. The goal was to keep the baby in as long as possible, but a week later, at just 33 weeks, everything changed. My body began to crash, and Zion had to be born.

Just as it was almost time to push, I heard, “Rapid response to Labor and Delivery room 12.” That was my room, but the call was not for me. It was for Thomas. He had fallen ill during my labor and was rushed upstairs to be admitted with pancreatitis. He watched Zion’s birth via FaceTime while doctors worked to keep both of us stable.

Our 3lb fighter was rushed to the NICU, and for days we lived in a blur of hospital visits and prayers. But even in the middle of the mess, there was joy. God was present. We celebrated anyway.

This morning, I looked at the crooked decorations the older boys hung for Zion’s birthday and saw the imperfections, but I also saw joy. God reminded me again: celebrate anyway.

Life will not always look like you hoped. Things will not always go the way you plan. But God’s faithfulness never wavers, and His love never changes.

He wants you to celebrate freedom. He wants you to celebrate wholeness. He wants you to celebrate healing. He wants you to celebrate what you cannot see yet.

Because even when things do not look good to us, God is still in control, and that is the perfect reason to celebrate anyway.

Before you go: If this encouraged you, please share it with a friend who needs a reminder to celebrate anyway.