Choose Joy: Trust, Community, and Worship in Trials

Devotional

Day 1: Choose Joy When Life Isn’t Joyful

Joy is not the same as happiness; it springs from God’s promise, not from easy circumstances. Isaiah paints a picture of God “flipping the script” for a weary people, carving a holy roadway from captivity back to promise. That same hope is ours in Jesus—the Redeemer who makes a way where there seems to be no way. You can choose joy because His Word anchors you when life feels barren. Ask the Lord for a fresh “God wink” that reminds you He hasn’t forgotten you, and take the next step on that holy road today. Let joy crown your head even before the circumstance changes [55:36].

Isaiah 35:4, 8–10: Speak courage to the anxious: “Be strong; don’t be afraid. Your God is coming to set things right and to rescue you.” A roadway will appear—the holy way—kept safe for those God has set apart; it won’t be a path for those who reject Him. No predators prowl there; only the redeemed will travel it. The people God ransomed will return to Zion singing; never-ending joy rests on them, and sorrow and sighing will scatter and disappear.

Reflection: Where, specifically, does life feel joyless right now, and what concrete step could you take this week to align your heart with God’s promise (for example, memorizing Isaiah 35:10 or writing a short prayer of joy)?

Day 2: Trust God’s Bigger Picture Like Mary

Mary faced a decision that risked her reputation and even her life, yet she chose surrender: “Let it be to me according to Your word.” Trust often looks like obedience before the explanation arrives. God’s favor does not always feel safe, but it is always good. When the future feels uncertain, you can lean into the God who sees the end from the beginning. Choose surrender today, even if you can’t see how it all fits together yet [49:57].

Luke 1:26–38: God sent Gabriel to Nazareth to tell a young, betrothed virgin named Mary that she would bear a son by the Holy Spirit. This child would be called Jesus, the Son of the Most High, and He would receive David’s throne and reign forever. Mary asked how this could be, and the angel explained that God’s power would overshadow her; even her elderly relative Elizabeth had conceived—a reminder that nothing is impossible with God. Mary answered with willing trust: “I am the Lord’s servant; let it happen as you have said.”

Reflection: What is one area where obedience to God currently feels costly, and what single, small act of trust could you practice this week in response?

Day 3: Run To Elizabeth—Don’t Walk Alone

Godly community is where fear loosens and faith strengthens. Mary didn’t isolate; she ran to Elizabeth and found instant confirmation, joy, and blessing. You don’t have to carry your battles by yourself—God gives “Elizabeths” who will pray, encourage, and speak life over you. Seek out a brother or sister who can remind you who you are and who God is. Joy grows where honesty and intercession meet [35:31].

Luke 1:39–45: Mary hurried to the hill country and entered Elizabeth’s home. The moment Mary greeted her, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped, and Elizabeth, filled with the Spirit, blessed Mary. She affirmed that Mary was carrying the Lord’s promised child and that God would fulfill His word. Mary’s faith met Elizabeth’s encouragement, and heaven’s joy broke in.

Reflection: Who is a trusted “Elizabeth” in your life, and what is one specific way you can invite them into your story this week (a call, a coffee, a prayer text)?

Day 4: Sing Until Your Heart Believes Again

Worship retrains your mind to focus on God’s purpose rather than your pain. When words run out, a song can carry your soul back to trust. Slow down a familiar chorus, sing it in your living room or car, and let your spirit rise as you magnify the Lord. Like Mary, turn fear into praise and overwhelm into adoration. Sing your way into courage and let joy find you in the melody [44:28].

Luke 1:46–55: Mary’s soul lifted God high: she rejoiced in her Savior who saw her humble state and did great things for her. She celebrated His mercy across generations, His strong arm that topples pride and lifts the lowly. He fills the hungry with good, remembers His promises, and keeps covenant love with His people. Her song turns memory into faith and faith into praise.

Reflection: What simple worship practice will you commit to this week (song, place, and time) so that your heart is regularly redirected toward God’s promises?

Day 5: Born For Battle—Stand Shoulder To Shoulder

You were not designed to fight alone; we’re born for adversity and built to stand together. Real brotherhood and sisterhood look like accountability, encouragement, and steady presence when the pressure rises. Share the load, pray with someone, and refuse isolation. Joy strengthens when you know others are beside you in the struggle. Choose community on purpose and watch courage grow [27:15].

Proverbs 17:17: A true friend stays constant in love, but a brother is forged for hard times—made to show up when the battle breaks out.

Reflection: What current battle do you need others to help you carry, and who will you ask this week to check in, pray with you, and stand by your side?

Sermon Summary

We worshiped through our giving today, thanking God for His goodness and sowing into good ground. I shared vision for our Legacy Center—a state-of-the-art next gen facility where kids and students can encounter Jesus in spaces designed for them. We’re believing to build it debt-free, trusting the Lord to provide through faithful generosity. We also celebrated the first graduating class of Brotherhood—nine men who completed six months of rigorous discipleship, accountability, reading, service, and a physical challenge. I’m incredibly proud of the brothers they’ve become. Come April, we’re opening Brotherhood to the men of Harvest for a six-month, high-accountability season of growth—calling men higher as husbands, fathers, and leaders. And next year we’ll dive deep together—journaling daily and walking through the whole Bible in 52 weeks, getting that 30,000-foot view that ties the storyline together.

From there, we turned to Isaiah 35 and Luke 1. Judah was under the threat of Assyria, and Isaiah “flipped the script,” promising a day when God would make a highway of holiness from captivity back to promise—a road home for the redeemed. That picture is ours too. Joy is not naïve optimism; it is the fruit of trusting God’s Word when our circumstances haven’t caught up yet. Christmas isn’t always “joyful” for everyone. But Christ’s coming means we can choose joy even when life isn’t joyful.

Mary shows us how. The angel’s announcement did not land in a safe, sentimental world; it put her life and future at risk. Yet she trusted God’s bigger picture—“let it be to me according to your word.” She ran to Elizabeth—she didn’t walk alone. And she sang—ten verses of worship that moved her focus from fear to faith, from her small story to God’s long faithfulness through the generations. Worship retrains our minds; community steadies our steps; surrender enlarges our horizon. So if your season is heavy, choose to trust, run to your people, and sing. God still builds highways through deserts. The redeemed will come home with joy.

Key Takeaways

1. Choose joy when life isn’t joyful. Joy is rooted in God’s promises, not the volatility of our circumstances. Isaiah’s “highway of holiness” is a picture of God making a way from bondage back to promise, even when we can’t see the path. Joy crowns those who walk that road by faith, long before the scenery changes. [63:44]
2. Trust God’s bigger picture like Mary. Mary’s “let it be to me” wasn’t resignation; it was courageous consent in the face of real risk. Faith doesn’t always get clarity first; it often begins with costly trust anchored in God’s character. Surrender is how we make room for the impossible. [79:36]
3. Don’t walk alone—find your Elizabeth. Mary ran to someone who would recognize God’s work before she could explain it. We need people who respond with faith, not suspicion; intercession, not interrogation. Brotherhood, spiritual friendships, and gospel community keep us steady when the news we carry is heavy. [82:02]
4. Worship until your heart realigns. Singing is not a mood accessory; it’s spiritual formation. Worship shifts attention from pain to the Healer, retraining our minds to focus on God’s purpose. When words fail, songs carry us—until faith becomes felt again. [84:54]
5. Walk the road home God provides. Isaiah’s highway is not moralism—it’s mercy paved through the wilderness. God prepares safe passage for the ransomed to return, guarded from the predators that once stalked them. Take the next faithful step; the road is already built. [58:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:15] - Legacy Center and Next Gen Vision
[28:22] - Believing to Build Debt-Free
[29:02] - Prayer Over Tithes and Offerings
[32:36] - Brotherhood Introduction and Purpose
[35:31] - Why Disciple Men and Start Brotherhood
[38:18] - Accountability, Reading, and 60-Mile Challenge
[41:29] - Graduation Gifts: Coins and Patches
[44:28] - Knife Symbolism: Born for Battle
[46:57] - Transition to Teaching and Announcements
[49:57] - 52-Week Bible Overview and Journaling
[52:27] - Judah’s Crisis and Isaiah’s Context
[55:36] - God Flips the Script to Joy
[58:58] - Highway of Holiness Explained
[61:06] - “Therefore the Redeemed” and Joy
[63:44] - Joy vs. Happiness: Word vs. Circumstance
[66:50] - Nazareth Site: The Annunciation
[69:49] - The Weight of Mary’s Reality
[73:18] - Betrothal and Cultural Stakes
[79:36] - Mary’s Surrender: “Let It Be”
[82:02] - Run to Elizabeth: Don’t Isolate
[84:54] - Worship Retrains the Mind
[88:17] - Mary’s Song: Magnify the Lord
[91:27] - Hall of Faith: Trusting Unseen Outcomes
[95:00] - Call to Worship and Response

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
- Isaiah 35:4, 8-10
- Luke 1:26-38
- Luke 1:46-55

Observation questions

In Isaiah 35:8-10, what details describe the highway—who walks on it, what dangers are absent, and what crowns those who travel it?
In Luke 1:26-38, what are the specific risks and promises inside Gabriel’s announcement to Mary? Name at least three phrases that show risk and three that show promise.
In Luke 1:46-55, what shift do you see in Mary’s song—from her own situation to God’s faithfulness through generations? Where does her focus move?
“Joy is rooted in God’s Word, not our circumstances.” How was this tied to Isaiah’s “highway” picture in the message? [01:03:44]

Interpretation questions

If Isaiah’s “highway of holiness” is mercy, not moralism, what does that reveal about how God brings people from bondage back to promise? How might that shape how someone thinks about repentance and progress? [58:58]
Mary’s “let it be” shows courageous consent before clarity. In what ways can trust come first, and why might surrender be the doorway to the “impossible” in a person’s life? [01:19:36]
Why does community matter when someone carries heavy news? What made Elizabeth a safe person for Mary, and what would those qualities look like in friendships today? [01:22:02]
How does singing shape us in hard seasons? What’s the difference between trying to change feelings and retraining focus through worship? [01:24:54]

Application questions

Choose joy when life isn’t joyful: Where is your life out of sync with God’s promises right now? What promise from Scripture will you hold onto this week, and how will you practice joy before the scenery changes? [01:03:44]
Trust God’s bigger picture like Mary: Where might you need to pray, “Let it be to me according to your word”? What is costly about that trust for you, and what step of surrender can you take in the next 48 hours? [01:19:36]
Don’t walk alone—find your Elizabeth: Who can recognize God’s work in you even before you can explain it? What one step will you take this week—text, coffee, small group, accountability—to stop isolating and run toward community? [01:22:02]
Worship until your heart realigns: What song helps you shift from fear to faith? Would you plan a daily 2-minute sing-out-loud moment this week (car, shower, walk) and note how your focus changes? If it helps, read Mary’s song (Luke 1:46-55) slowly and turn one line into a prayer. [01:24:54]
Walk the road home God provides: What is one “next faithful step” you sense on the highway God has already built for you? Name one danger God has removed or one protection He has provided, and then act on that next step this week. [58:58]
Worship through generosity: Where is God inviting you to sow into “good ground” as an act of worship and trust, not pressure? What practical decision (budget, recurring gift, spontaneous generosity) would help your heart join your offering? [29:02]
Dive deep in the Word: What would it look like for you to journal daily and walk the Bible this year for that “30,000-foot view”? What small, realistic plan (time, place, method) could you set up this week to start and stay steady? [49:57]

Sermon Clips

They're standing there. Now, in chapter 34, he is prophesying judgment on basically onto Assyria, onto the nations. And now in 35, he's kind of flipping the scriptand what he had described as desolate and the nations being a wilderness. Now he's turned around and he has turned the script and now he's describing the nation of Judah in the terms of like a garden. Right? So that they can see the opposite picture. So no matter what you're going through, I want you to see there's coming a day when God's going to flip the script. [00:55:55] (46 seconds) #GodWillFlipTheScript

Now, maybe I need to do some background, but that excites me because, see, every one of us, that's a picture. Israel was a picture of what we've walked through because we were in captivity to sin, yet Jesus made a way. There was a highway called holy, and he said, if you'll walk this highway to come back to me, it'll bring you all the way back to the place of your promise. [00:59:35] (26 seconds) #HighwayBackToPromise

But when we understand the context of the song, they're talking tothe southern nation of Judah. And Judah is experiencing a threat. And God is promising them that there will come a day in their captivity when a road shall be built from the place of their bondage to the place of their promise. And he will bring them back for Israel. But the picture of that promise belongs to us as well. [01:02:35] (31 seconds) #RoadToRestoration

And he's saying, listen, it doesn't matter how long you've been in bondage. It doesn't matter how long you've dealt with your struggle that God will provide a way. And he said, I'll make a way for you to leave the place of your bondage and come all the way back to the place of your promise and reignite with the God who will provide and will redeem your situation. [01:03:06] (31 seconds) #GodProvidesAWay

And what we can learn from that is Christ's coming allows us to choose joy even when life isn't joyful. You see, happiness, I've heard it described like this, happiness is a result of your circumstances. But joy is a result of His Word. Come on. And if we learnto trust His Word, then when our circumstance does not align itself with His Word, we have to understand that at some point He is going to make a way for us to return to His Word. [01:05:17] (48 seconds) #JoyFromHisWord

What I found out is that oftentimes we'll go through life, and man, when life throws its worst at us, we have a tendency to get so stuck in the weeds. All we can see is the negative, bad situation that'sfacing us, and if we could just come to the place where we can step back from that, pause for a moment, and remember what God's bigger plan is, what God's bigger picture is. If we can learn to step back and to remember what God's promise to us is. If we could take on Mary's approach, but God promised. [01:21:10] (46 seconds) #SeeGodsBiggerPicture

She sang, for ten verses, you can read her song, she sang for joy, she sang to release the fears to the Lord that she trusted, she sang to focus her mind on God's promise, and not on her situation, she sang, and so can you. We talkedabout it last week, we said worship retrains our brain to focus on God and His purpose, it takes our minds off of the pain, and places it on the one who can heal our pain. [01:25:08] (41 seconds) #WorshipOverWorry

so I'm going to encourage you today, I don't know what life's thrown at you, you may be in one of the best seasonsyou've ever been in, you may be in one of the worst, I don't know, what I do know is this, no matter what the season you're in, worship will always turn your heart towards the right place, come on, [01:34:50] (32 seconds) #WorshipEverySeason

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

How does Isaiah 35 promise joy during captivity?

What distinguishes biblical joy from circumstantial happiness?

How did Mary model choosing joy under pressure?