In a season marked by pain and setbacks, I learned the surprising power of choosing joy. My journey started with a simple gratitude journal, and over time, gratitude opened my eyes to the beauty in my life, even in the midst of struggle. Today, I want to share a bit of my story with you, in hopes it might inspire you to find joy—even if it feels like joy isn’t choosing you.

Where does joy come alive the most? In last week's post, we found that true joy is rooted in God’s presence. This week, we’re taking it a step further to see how joy grows even deeper in community. Joy isn’t just for solo moments—it’s meant to be shared, and community brings out its fullest expression.

Take, for instance, a story of a sweet woman proudly sharing her family’s chili recipe... until someone’s “joy snatching” comment left her discouraged. This moment captures a truth we all know too well: joy can be stolen in an instant, especially when others don’t understand it. In this post, we'll dig into how to protect our joy, how community can help it thrive, and what barriers we might need to break down along the way. Dive in and discover why sharing joy is at the heart of God’s design for us.

Is Your Joy Being Stolen?

Ever find yourself grumbling about those Christmas lights going up in October, or rolling your eyes at yet another pumpkin spice latte in August? I used to be that person, but a simple Zoom call flipped my perspective. What if, instead of side-eyeing someone else's joy, we tried to understand it?

In this week's blog, we're diving deep into what it means to protect our joy—especially the kind of joy that doesn't rely on circumstances. Join me as we unpack the truth about real joy, how it’s rooted in God's presence, and why the world keeps trying to steal it from us.

Get ready to explore what it means to find God exactly where He’s supposed to be—and to guard your joy, even when life throws its worst at you.