一天早晨，當我在禱告中默想未來的一年時，腦海中浮現了一句話：以喜樂的步調前進。這似乎很貼切，因我常常會工作過度而失去喜樂。所以我決定聽從指引，未來一年儘量以喜樂舒適的步調來工作，空出時間給朋友和休閒活動。

但這計劃只持續了幾個月！當時我和一所大學合作，負責督導我開發的一套試辦課程。隨著學生註冊、開始授課，我又為趕上進度而開始加班。此時，我怎能以喜樂的步調前進呢？

耶穌應許將喜樂賜給信靠祂的人，我們只要住在祂的愛裡（約翰福音15章9節），透過禱告將需要帶到祂面前（16章24節）。祂說：「這些事我已經對你們說了，是要叫我的喜樂存在你們心裡，並叫你們的喜樂可以滿足」（15章11節）。這份喜樂是聖靈所結的果子，因此我們當與聖靈同步（加拉太書5章22-25節）。後來，我發現在忙碌時保有喜樂的唯一途徑，就是每晚空出一段時間，享受寧靜交託的禱告時光。

喜樂既是如此重要，那麼我們就應當在日程安排中優先考慮到它。但計劃往往趕不上變化，還好我們有另一個喜樂的源頭，就是聖靈。如今，對我來說，以喜樂的步調前進，意味著要以禱告的心向前邁進，空出時間，從上帝那裡領受祂所賜的喜樂。

Go at the speed of joy. The phrase dropped into my mind as I prayerfully considered the year ahead one morning, and it seemed apt. I had a propensity to overwork, which often sapped my joy. So, following this guidance, I committed to working at an enjoyable pace in the coming year, making space for friends and joyful activities.

This plan worked . . . until March! Then I partnered with a university to oversee the trial of a course I’d been developing. With students to enroll and teaching to deliver, I was soon working long hours to keep up. How could I go at the speed of joy now?

Jesus promises joy to those who believe in Him, telling us it comes through remaining in His love (John 15:9) and prayerfully bringing our needs to Him (16:24). “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete,” he says (15:11). This joy comes as a gift through His Spirit, who we’re to keep in step with (Galatians 5:22-25). I found I could only maintain joy during my busy period when I spent time each night in restful, trusting prayer.

Since joy is so important, it makes sense to prioritize it in our schedules. But since life is never completely under our control, I’m glad another source of joy—the Spirit—is available to us. For me, going at the speed of joy now means going at the speed of prayer—making time to receive from the Joy-Giver.