How to Find Joy Again With God After a Difficult Season

 

Are you still feeling lost, confused, depressed, anxious, or simply not like yourself after going through a difficult season?

Well, yeah… we’re all in this together like the High School Musical song lol.

But seriously, difficult seasons can really affect the way we experience life. When you’ve been stressed, hurt, disappointed, anxious, or emotionally drained for a long time, sometimes you can forget what it actually feels like to be you.

You forget what makes you laugh.

You forget what you enjoy doing.

You forget what it feels like to wake up and actually be excited about something.

And sometimes, we get so used to putting everybody else before ourselves that we forget that we’re people who need love, care, rest, and joy too.

That’s something I’m currently learning in my own life. I’m learning how to make time for myself, do the things I genuinely enjoy, rediscover who I am, and most importantly, build a deeper relationship with God while doing it.

And let me tell you… life is starting to get SO much better for me.

So in this article, I want to share some of the things I’m doing during this season of finding my joy again with God. I hope something here encourages you to start finding your spark again too.

1. Let God Into the Parts of You That Still Hurt

There was a time in my life when I honestly didn't believe God could heal what was going on inside of me.

I knew about God, but deep down, I didn't really believe that He could reach those deeply hurt, exhausted, anxious parts of me.

If you’ve been feeling emotionally, mentally, or spiritually drained lately, you may also want to read my article “10 Signs You’re Running on Empty (And How God Gently Calls You to Rest)” because sometimes finding your joy again starts with realizing just how exhausted you’ve actually been.

Eventually, I just had enough.

I had enough of feeling drained.

I had enough of constantly feeling tired, lonely, anxious, depressed, and disconnected from myself.

So in August 2024, I began what I would describe as a deep healing journey with God and Jesus Christ—and I'm still on that journey today.

And since then, my life has slowly started becoming SO much better.

Not perfect.

But better.

I'm learning that healing with God isn't always this huge overnight transformation where you wake up the next morning and suddenly everything you've ever struggled with disappears.

Sometimes healing looks like slowly becoming interested in life again.

Sometimes it's laughing more.

Sometimes it's finally wanting to leave the house.

Sometimes it's picking up an old hobby.

Sometimes it's realizing, Wait... I actually feel peaceful right now.

Those little moments matter.

2. Allow Yourself to Get Used to Joy Again

I'm not even going to lie—when joy started coming back into my life, it actually felt unfamiliar.

Sometimes my mind would basically be like:

"Okay... what's the catch?" Lol.

When you've experienced prolonged stress or difficult and traumatic situations, you can become so accustomed to being on guard that genuine happiness almost catches you by surprise.

You're so used to surviving that peace feels weird.

You're so used to something going wrong that when something feels good, you start wondering when the bad part is coming.

I'm learning that I don't have to be suspicious of every good moment.

I can enjoy it.

I can thank God for it.

I can actually be present in it.

Joy doesn't mean that nothing difficult will ever happen again. It means I'm allowing myself to experience the beautiful parts of life too.

3. Rediscover the Things That Make You Feel Like YOU

One of the most beautiful things happening as I grow closer to God is that my old interests are starting to come back.

I'm rediscovering my love for kickboxing and kung fu.

Playing piano.

Singing.

Writing.

Gaming.

Getting my nails done.

Fashion.

Creativity.

And simply discovering more about myself.

It's almost like pieces of me that became quiet during difficult seasons are starting to wake back up.

And another thing I'm learning?

I don't have to put myself into one big box.

Who says that because I'm a woman, I have to only enjoy stereotypically "girly" things?

I'm 24. I can love getting my hair and nails done and still want to learn kickboxing.

I can love feminine fashion and play video games.

I can sing, write, play piano, exercise, game, create, and explore whatever genuinely interests me.

Human beings are multidimensional.

You don't have to shrink yourself down into one aesthetic, personality, hobby, or identity just because that's what you think society expects from you.

I'm still discovering who I am.

And honestly? I think that's beautiful.

I don't think we're supposed to reach a certain age and say, "Welp, this is officially everything I'm ever going to like for the rest of my life."

No!

Keep exploring yourself.

Keep trying things.

Keep learning.

Keep discovering what makes you light up.

4. Stop Feeling Guilty for Resting and Having Fun

This one has been BIG for me.

I'm learning how to stop feeling guilty about having fun.

When you've spent so much time stressed, surviving, working, worrying, or trying to prove yourself, resting can almost feel like you're doing something wrong.

You start thinking:

"Shouldn't I be doing something productive right now?"

But everything doesn't have to be productive.

You don't have to constantly work to prove something to yourself—or anybody else.

There are seasons for work, and there are seasons for rest.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us:

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."

Rest is not something you have to earn by completely exhausting yourself first.

I'm learning that I can enjoy my life while still loving God.

I can play a video game.

I can watch something funny.

I can read.

I can go somewhere fun.

I can light a candle and relax.

I can spend time outside.

I can explore an old hobby.

I can spend time with people I love.

I can simply exist without constantly asking myself what I should accomplish next.

God did not create us only to work, struggle, accomplish things, sleep, wake up, and repeat.

Life isn't only about surviving. It's about living too.

Ready for a gentle reset with God?
If you’ve been feeling drained, disconnected from yourself, or like you’ve been stuck in survival mode, I created my FREE 7-Day Mind & Body Beacon Christian Reset Workbook for you. It’s designed to help you slow down, reconnect with yourself, spend intentional time with God, and gently reset different areas of your life—your mind, body, home, heart, goals, and more.

[Start Your Free 7-Day Christian Reset →]

5. Make Time for Things That Genuinely Bring You Joy

Sometimes finding your joy again doesn't require some huge life-changing event.

It can start small.

Read a book you've been wanting to read.

Go outside and get some fresh air.

Take a long shower.

Light your favorite candle.

Play a game.

Dance around your room.

Listen to music you genuinely love.

Go to a festival or concert.

Spend time with your family or friends.

Learn an instrument.

Try a new hobby.

Exercise in a way that feels enjoyable.

Pray.

Read your Bible.

Try something you loved when you were younger.

You don't have to wait until your entire life is figured out before you're allowed to enjoy it.

Give yourself permission to experience little pieces of joy right now.

6. Invite God Into Your Healing AND Your Creativity

This is something I'm currently learning how to do more.

I'm learning to invite God into my healing, creativity, business, ideas, and everyday life.

Some of you may be wondering:

"Okay Ashanti... but how do you actually do that?"

Honestly, start by talking to Him.

You can pray something as simple as:

"God, what do You want me to focus on today?"

"God, guide me through what I'm healing from."

"God, help me rediscover the person You created me to be."

And when you're creating something:

"God, give me creativity."

"Help me create from a genuine place."

"Let what I create help somebody who needs it."

Then create.

Write.

Sing.

Paint.

Build.

Cook.

Start your project.

Whatever creativity looks like for you, invite God into it.

There are moments when creating starts feeling less like pressure and more like play again.

And that's something I'm learning to appreciate.

7. Understand That Finding Yourself Is an Ongoing Journey

I'm still discovering myself.

And I don't think that's going to stop.

There will probably be new hobbies I haven't discovered yet.

New places I'll want to visit.

New things I'll learn.

New dreams.

New interests.

New parts of my personality.

New ways God grows me.

And that's exciting.

You don't need to have yourself completely figured out.

Maybe instead of asking:

"Who am I supposed to be?"

Start asking:

"Who did God create me to be when I'm not trying to impress anybody?"

That question can open up a completely different journey.

Things That Make Me Feel Alive Again: Journaling Exercise

If you've been disconnected from yourself for a while, grab your journal, notes app, or even a random piece of paper and answer these questions.

Don't overthink your answers. This isn't homework. There are no "right" hobbies or answers.

Just be honest.

1. What did I genuinely love doing before life became so stressful?

2. What activities make me lose track of time?

3. What have I secretly wanted to try but haven't allowed myself to?

4. What makes me feel like me?

5. What did younger me love?

6. What am I interested in that doesn't "match" the box I've put myself in?

7. When was the last time I felt genuinely alive?

8. What would having fun look like if I didn't feel guilty about it?

9. What is ONE joyful thing I can do this week?

10. How can I invite God into that joy?

Think about childhood, your teenage years, or any period when you felt more like yourself.

What can you do for an hour and suddenly realize it felt like ten minutes?

Maybe it's dancing, gaming, painting, kickboxing, gardening, baking, photography, learning piano, traveling, writing, fashion—anything.

Write it down.

Not the version of you that other people expect.

Not the productive version.

Not the version trying to impress people.

You.

Write down at least five things.

Then ask yourself:

How can I bring one of those things back into my life now?

Maybe you're feminine and love martial arts.

Maybe you're quiet and love performing.

Maybe you're an entrepreneur who loves gaming.

Maybe you're serious about your faith but also extremely goofy.

You are allowed to have layers.

Where were you?

What were you doing?

Who were you with?

What made that moment different?

Write without censoring yourself.

Don't create a massive self-improvement plan.

Choose one thing.

Maybe you thank Him while you're outside.

Maybe you pray before you create.

Maybe you play worship music while you paint.

Maybe you simply say:

"God, thank You for allowing me to experience this."

If this journaling exercise helped you realize that you need a deeper reset, you don’t have to figure everything out at once. My FREE 7-Day Christian Reset Workbook will walk you through one gentle area of your life at a time while keeping God at the center.

[Get Your Free 7-Day Reset Workbook →]

                                                         

🤎 I Want to Hear From You

Before I create what’s next for Mind & Body Beacon Co., I want to hear from you.

What are you struggling with in this season of your life? What do you wish you had more support with?

I’m working on future Christian journals and resources for women who are healing, growing closer to God, leaving survival mode, and learning how to feel like themselves again. But I don’t want to assume what you need—I genuinely want to listen.

I created a short anonymous survey where you can share what’s on your heart. Your answers will help me create resources that meet women where they actually are.

[Share What You’re Going Through 🤎]