We’ve lost our joy, friends.
Something has walked right in, bold as day, and stole it out from underneath us. We are discouraged. We are angry. We are sad. We are confused. We are at odds with each other — and the world (and those we love) are receiving a jaded message about faith.
That’s not who we are and that’s why I’m saying this bold and clear.
It’s time to take our joy back.
There’s a price to pay when joy is lost. In Matthew 23, Jesus lists 7 woes of a person who has lost their joy. When I first read this, I thought he was just talking about a particular group of people. Until I realized that woe means sorrow, bleak disappointment, and sadness.
Jesus wasn’t talking about this to point fingers. He was grieved that his people were living joyless lives, defined by woe. He was teaching his message boldly to usher the crowd away from such bleak faith. He offered more. He still does.
I’m not going to lie. This past several months have been the most challenging of my life, but I’ve discovered things about joy that take my breath away. The joy Jesus promised is for me. It’s for you. it’s not utopian joy that hides her head in the sand. It’s not joy that stuffs the hard stuff into the recesses of her heart because they are too painful to face. It’s not joy that puts on a mask or pretends. This is joy that is deeply rooted. Joy that is a shelter. Joy that helps us find our place and assignment in the world. Joy that leads us away from joy stealers to live as a JoyKeeper.
It’s joy that no one can take from us.
This kind of joy will break through the in a world that feels pretty ominous right now. This kind of joy blankets a home. It blankets a heart. It makes room for real feelings, but also allows Jesus to step into the midst of those emotions.
We can know joy. We can keep joy. We can live joy.
It’s time to reclaim faith that is marked by joy.
Faith that the world sees and says, “I want to know more.”
I want to personally invite you to a private study. I want to share 6 truths that I believe will completely change the way you think about joy. I look forward to studying around a virtual table with you. I look forward to getting to know you, and even Bible journaling with you. I can’t wait to talk face-to-face in a live each Friday.
Will you join me?
The study begins this Monday, July 13th. You don’t have to be there at a certain time. You can simply show up when it’s convenient, and jump into the conversation. We have lots of fun gifts for you. One of them is a gorgeous Bible journaling kit created by Sweet to the Soul just for JoyKeeper. We have other sweet gifts. We will have sweet community.
Let’s take back our joy, friends. Let’s do this together!
Suzie
How to join the study
To join the study, simply pre-order the book and sign up on the JoyKeeper page. You’ll get an invitation to the group, along with some fun things in your in-box. I’ll open the “doors” this Sunday and we’ll begin that next morning together.
Grab a friend. Invite her. Tell your church or small group or that group you are meeting with by Zoom.
More Than Small Talk #podcast
Today’s More Than Small Talk podcast — In today’s podcast, Holley Gerth, Jennifer Watson, and I take this topic deeper. I hope you’ll tune in. Find out all the ways you can listen in.
Suzie, I love this. Joy is possible and it’s a gift Jesus gives us when we sit in complete surrender with Him. Walking through my cancer diagnosis should have had me paralyzed due to all the extra tests, waiting, not knowing, tests, waiting, not knowing….. I chose to sit with Jesus and share with my husband and a few friends because I didn’t want to tell my kids (next others….) until I knew exactly what I was battling. I sat with Jesus every morning and He not only met me – He filled me. During that time I read the book of Matthew and your book The Spirit-Led Heart. He held me. He sustained me. He filled me with a joy that surpassed understanding. When I finally knew everything and began telling some family and friends they were shocked because of all that I did in that waiting – college visits, teaching, writing, enjoying family….. I only could do that because of the joy that He filled me with. Jesus’s words at the end of Matthew stick with me. He said to His disciples before ascending “I am always with you.” Jesus is ALWAYS with me. ALWAYS. I choose to be with Him. I can’t encourage women enough to surrender their pain and embrace His joy. I’m so glad you wrote this book. God speaks through you Suzie. I am very grateful for that.