JOY???
Joy?
We live in a world obsessed with self. Everything around us seems to shout, “Do what’s best for you,” “Protect your peace,” “Put yourself first.” And yet, for all our effort to prioritize comfort and self-preservation, we’ve never been more restless, more anxious, or more disconnected. The more we make life about ourselves, the less satisfaction we seem to find.
But here’s the thing no one tells you: joy was never meant to be the end goal of a perfect life. It’s not something we stumble across once everything feels right. Joy is a gift from God, and a choice we get to make. It’s rooted in His presence, not our performance. And one of the most beautiful things about the way He designed us is this. When we live beyond ourselves, when we pour into others, that joy we long for often rises to the surface.
You were not made to be the center of your own universe. That truth isn’t crushing... It’s freeing. Because it means joy isn’t something you have to chase. It’s something God wants you to walk in right now. And more often than not, that joy deepens when we give ourselves away.
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” That word “blessed” speaks to wholeness. To deep happiness. To soul-level contentment. And while joy is first and foremost a work of the Holy Spirit, God wired our very bodies to experience it through acts of love. Science confirms what the Bible has always declared... Serving others releases the same chemicals in our brains that are tied to peace, contentment, and connection. When we serve, we often feel more alive, not because we’ve earned something, but because we’re stepping into what we were made for.
That doesn’t mean it’s always easy. In fact, some of the most joy-filled moments are born in the most inconvenient places. Helping someone move when your own life feels chaotic. Showing up for a hurting friend when your tank feels low. Giving time, prayer, or energy you weren’t planning to spend. These aren’t glamorous things. They’re quiet, ordinary choices. And still, over and over, we find this truth: we show up hesitant, and walk away full. We give of ourselves, and receive peace we didn’t expect.
But don’t be mistaken. Joy doesn’t hinge on these moments. It doesn’t come and go based on how much you serve. It is yours in Christ. It is your strength. But there’s something about walking in step with God’s heart... Something about stepping into the needs of others, that draws that joy to the surface in a way little else does. We don’t serve to feel joy. But when we do serve, we often discover that joy was already waiting.
The problem is, our culture has dulled our senses. We’ve traded depth for distraction. Our screens have trained us to look past pain, to scroll through need, to choose what’s comfortable over what’s meaningful. And while our hearts crave purpose, we’ve been conditioned to settle for momentary ease. We celebrate the highlight reel and forget the quiet power of presence. We guard our time so fiercely that we forget joy was never meant to be kept to ourselves.
Real joy is constantly found with dirt on its hands. It shows up when no one’s watching. It prays when no one claps. It leans in when life gets messy. Joy isn’t just found in the highlight moments; it’s found in the hidden ones. It’s not born from applause but from alignment with the One who gave everything for us. Jesus didn’t model joy by avoiding pain. He showed us the fullness of joy in a life poured out.
So what if we started to believe Him? What if we trusted that joy really is found in giving? What if we began to look up and out instead of always in? What if we understood that serving isn’t a burden, but a doorway? Not a way to earn joy, but a way to experience it. Not because of what it gives us, but because of what it reveals about who we are and who God is.
The invitation is simple, and it’s for all of us. You don’t need to be strong to serve. You don’t need to have it all together. You just need to be willing. Willing to say yes. Willing to show up. Willing to believe that God meant it when He said joy comes not from grasping, but from giving.
You already have access to joy. It’s yours in Christ. But if you feel like it’s been buried, maybe it’s time to live beyond yourself. Maybe it’s time to step into the places where joy comes alive again. Not because you have to, but because you were made for this.
You were made to carry joy. You were made to give it away. And when you do, you’ll find that it never runs dry.
We live in a world obsessed with self. Everything around us seems to shout, “Do what’s best for you,” “Protect your peace,” “Put yourself first.” And yet, for all our effort to prioritize comfort and self-preservation, we’ve never been more restless, more anxious, or more disconnected. The more we make life about ourselves, the less satisfaction we seem to find.
But here’s the thing no one tells you: joy was never meant to be the end goal of a perfect life. It’s not something we stumble across once everything feels right. Joy is a gift from God, and a choice we get to make. It’s rooted in His presence, not our performance. And one of the most beautiful things about the way He designed us is this. When we live beyond ourselves, when we pour into others, that joy we long for often rises to the surface.
You were not made to be the center of your own universe. That truth isn’t crushing... It’s freeing. Because it means joy isn’t something you have to chase. It’s something God wants you to walk in right now. And more often than not, that joy deepens when we give ourselves away.
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” That word “blessed” speaks to wholeness. To deep happiness. To soul-level contentment. And while joy is first and foremost a work of the Holy Spirit, God wired our very bodies to experience it through acts of love. Science confirms what the Bible has always declared... Serving others releases the same chemicals in our brains that are tied to peace, contentment, and connection. When we serve, we often feel more alive, not because we’ve earned something, but because we’re stepping into what we were made for.
That doesn’t mean it’s always easy. In fact, some of the most joy-filled moments are born in the most inconvenient places. Helping someone move when your own life feels chaotic. Showing up for a hurting friend when your tank feels low. Giving time, prayer, or energy you weren’t planning to spend. These aren’t glamorous things. They’re quiet, ordinary choices. And still, over and over, we find this truth: we show up hesitant, and walk away full. We give of ourselves, and receive peace we didn’t expect.
But don’t be mistaken. Joy doesn’t hinge on these moments. It doesn’t come and go based on how much you serve. It is yours in Christ. It is your strength. But there’s something about walking in step with God’s heart... Something about stepping into the needs of others, that draws that joy to the surface in a way little else does. We don’t serve to feel joy. But when we do serve, we often discover that joy was already waiting.
The problem is, our culture has dulled our senses. We’ve traded depth for distraction. Our screens have trained us to look past pain, to scroll through need, to choose what’s comfortable over what’s meaningful. And while our hearts crave purpose, we’ve been conditioned to settle for momentary ease. We celebrate the highlight reel and forget the quiet power of presence. We guard our time so fiercely that we forget joy was never meant to be kept to ourselves.
Real joy is constantly found with dirt on its hands. It shows up when no one’s watching. It prays when no one claps. It leans in when life gets messy. Joy isn’t just found in the highlight moments; it’s found in the hidden ones. It’s not born from applause but from alignment with the One who gave everything for us. Jesus didn’t model joy by avoiding pain. He showed us the fullness of joy in a life poured out.
So what if we started to believe Him? What if we trusted that joy really is found in giving? What if we began to look up and out instead of always in? What if we understood that serving isn’t a burden, but a doorway? Not a way to earn joy, but a way to experience it. Not because of what it gives us, but because of what it reveals about who we are and who God is.
The invitation is simple, and it’s for all of us. You don’t need to be strong to serve. You don’t need to have it all together. You just need to be willing. Willing to say yes. Willing to show up. Willing to believe that God meant it when He said joy comes not from grasping, but from giving.
You already have access to joy. It’s yours in Christ. But if you feel like it’s been buried, maybe it’s time to live beyond yourself. Maybe it’s time to step into the places where joy comes alive again. Not because you have to, but because you were made for this.
You were made to carry joy. You were made to give it away. And when you do, you’ll find that it never runs dry.
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