Joy: The ABC’s
Joy grows when we remember what’s true: God is near, even now. He’s not waiting for us to clean up or calm down. He’s already with us, ready to pour out his Spirit. So we stop spiraling, breathe deep and ask for help. Joy doesn’t depend on what’s happening around us. It depends on who’s right here.
When Nothing Else Matters
When you glimpse the joy of Christ, everything else shifts. You stop needing to prove yourself. Stop chasing things that never satisfy. The goals, the image, the striving — it all fades.
Joy Even in Chains
Joy isn’t the absence of pain. It’s not tied to comfort, ease or getting your way. Joy is a choice. Paul made it in chains. We can too — right in the middle of everything we don’t understand. Whether you’re staring down disappointment, rejection or just a world that feels upside down, God’s invitation stands: Rejoice. Not later. Not someday. But now. Joy isn’t just possible. It’s who you’re becoming.
Finding True Delight in the Lord
I used to think delighting in the Lord meant earning his blessings. But striving wore me down. What I learned instead is this: delight doesn’t begin with us — it begins with him.
Choose To Love Others And Live With Joy
The world may feel like it’s falling apart — wars, uncertainty, personal aches and pains. But if we’re honest, none of us ever really controlled it anyway. What we can control is how we live today. Choose to live with joy. Choose to love others well. That’s the freedom we’ve been given, even in chaos. The future is uncertain, but today is a gift. And that’s more than enough.
Fill Your Life With Wonder and Delight
Childhood wonder often fades as life’s hardships take hold, but joy and delight remain central to God’s plan for us. Every baby’s laugh, painted sunset and shared hug reflect his love. Slowing down to notice these gifts helps us step into the fullness of life he designed — one marked by childlike faith, meaningful connection and the beauty of the everyday. Joy isn’t lost; it’s waiting to be embraced.
Religious Traditions Help With Holiday Blues
The holidays can stir a mix of joy and challenges, but faith traditions offer a unique lifeline. From “Blue Christmas” services to moments of communal singing, shared meals and acts of giving, faith communities provide meaningful ways to navigate grief, loneliness and stress. These gatherings remind us we’re not alone and offer a chance to rediscover hope and joy — even in the midst of life’s heaviest seasons.
Celebrate Christmas Your Way
Christmas can look different for every family. Some find meaning in the stillness of a quiet morning, others in the joy of serving a neighbor, or the glow of shared traditions. However you celebrate, there’s room for the unique ways God wired you to honor the season. Let this year be one where your family finds joy and connection in the simple and sacred moments that reflect Christ’s love.
Choose Hard-Earned Joy Instead of Cynicism
True joy doesn’t avoid the heaviness of life — it embraces it, journeys through it and emerges on the other side, fuller and brighter. Rob Bell calls cynicism “lazy,” a superficial retreat from life’s complexities. Joy, by contrast, takes courage. It acknowledges the heartbreak and injustice of this world but refuses to be undone by them. Instead, it chooses gratitude for what’s fleeting and beautiful, savoring every precious moment while it lasts.
How We Embody Joy
Joy blooms uniquely in each life — quiet and subtle in some, exuberant and radiant in others. Like an invasive seed, joy resists control, spreading beyond our expectations and into the lives of those around us. Whether shaped by culture, personality or faith, joy stirs a longing for something eternal, reminding us that her laughter of the heart is not ours to tame but to share.
Creation, Fall, Redemption — And Your Money
From recognizing God’s ownership to navigating the pitfalls of greed and embracing the joy of giving, finances become a means to serve God’s purposes.
The Lord of the Rings and Redemptive Art
‘Lord of the Rings’ holds out a distant but profound hope of complete renewal and joy. You have to read very carefully, but mainly in the songs and poems, we learn about a future consummation in which “the world is mended” and about reunions at a distant day when “the lands that lie under the wave are lifted up again” and they “may meet in the Spring.”
The Gospel and Humor
Does the gospel have an effect on our sense of humor? The answer has to be yes—but why and how? The gospel creates a gentle sense of irony. Our doctrine of sin keeps us from being over-awed by anyone (especially ourselves) or shocked by any behavior.