Choosing Joy: Magnifying God Amidst Life's Challenges

This morning, we gathered to magnify the Lord, to make His name and power greater than any circumstance we face. In a world filled with chaos, division, and uncertainty—whether in our nation, our communities, or our own homes—we are called to lift God above our problems, to declare that He is bigger, stronger, and able to provide, heal, and deliver. We prayed for those among us who are struggling, for our nation, and for ourselves, asking God to help us love and pray even for those we disagree with, holding the tension of truth and grace as Christ commands.

Turning to the book of Habakkuk, we explored the prophet’s journey through a time of national crisis, spiritual decline, and personal discontent. Habakkuk’s honest questions—“How long, Lord?”—echo our own when we see injustice and suffering. Yet, God’s response is a call to faith: “The righteous shall live by faith.” Even when God’s timing is mysterious and His plans are not what we would choose, we are reminded that God always has a vision of victory for His people.

Habakkuk’s declaration—“Though the fig tree does not blossom…yet I will rejoice in the Lord”—teaches us that joy is not a passive feeling but a disciplined choice. Misery comes easily, but joy requires daily, intentional practice. We must prepare our hearts in advance, anchoring our joy in God rather than in circumstances, so that when trouble comes, our faith sustains us. We are challenged to make soul-strengthening determinations, refusing to let the toxicity of the world poison our inner life. Our joy is rooted in the God who saves, not in the shifting soil of our situations.

Finally, God promises spiritual adaptability—He makes our feet like the deer, able to stand and move even in the most unstable, high places. Through every trial, God’s mercy and grace keep us from falling. We are called to keep a “though” in our spirit, to practice joy in advance, and to trust that God is working, even when we cannot see it. As we leave, we are encouraged to choose and practice joy daily, letting our faith protect our joy, and to trust God anyhow, no matter what comes.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Magnifying God Above Circumstances To magnify the Lord is to intentionally make God’s presence and power larger than our problems. This is not denial of our struggles, but a declaration that God is greater than anything we face. When we gather in worship and prayer, we are choosing to shift our focus from the size of our problems to the greatness of our God, which in turn shrinks our anxieties and strengthens our hope. [21:23]
• 2. The Discipline of Joy in Difficult Times Joy is not something that simply happens to us; it is a spiritual discipline that must be practiced, especially in seasons of lack or uncertainty. Habakkuk’s “though” teaches us to prepare our hearts in advance, so that our joy is not tied to circumstances but to the unchanging character of God. Practicing gratitude and contentment daily builds a faith that can withstand famine, loss, or disappointment without losing its song. [80:22]
• 3. Soul-Strengthening Determinations Against Toxicity When the world around us is poisoned by injustice, violence, or negativity, we must make a conscious decision not to let what is sick in the soil make us sick in our soul. This means refusing to let external circumstances dictate our internal reality. By rooting our joy in God’s salvation, we can maintain peace and gladness even when everything else is falling apart. [94:10]
• 4. Spiritual Adaptability in Shaky Places God equips us with the ability to stand and move in unstable, high places—just as He makes the deer’s feet sure on rocky cliffs. Life will bring seasons where the ground beneath us feels uncertain, but God’s grace gives us the grip we need to keep going. Our testimony is not that we never faced trouble, but that God kept us from falling when trouble came. [99:28]
• 5. Choosing and Practicing Joy as an Act of Resistance In a world that often feels overwhelming, choosing joy is a form of holy resistance. It is a declaration that, no matter what is lost or lacking, God is still enough. By practicing joy—thanking God in advance, rejoicing in spite of circumstances, and trusting Him “anyhow”—we protect our hearts from bitterness and despair, and we bear witness to the sustaining power of faith. [113:20]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [21:23] - Magnifying God Above Our Problems
• [22:31] - Praying for One Another and Our Nation
• [25:01] - Holding Tension: Truth and Love in a Divided World
• [32:04] - Fellowship and Spreading Joy
• [38:07] - Announcements and Community Engagement
• [43:09] - Celebrating Ministry and Milestones
• [47:24] - September Anniversaries and Offering
• [50:45] - Consecration of Gifts and Worship
• [61:19] - Preparing Hearts for the Word
• [64:08] - Habakkuk’s “Though” and the Discipline of Joy
• [80:22] - Practicing Joy in Advance
• [90:09] - Adjusting Perspective: Soul-Strengthening Determinations
• [99:28] - Spiritual Adaptability: Feet Like a Deer
• [113:20] - Choosing Joy Anyhow and Prayer for Strength
• [121:13] - Invitation and Closing Blessing
• [124:01] - Benediction and Sending Forth

Bible Reading

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (ESV) — Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places.

Observation Questions

1. In Habakkuk 3:17-19, what are the specific losses or hardships the prophet lists before declaring his joy in the Lord?
2. According to the sermon, what does it mean to “magnify the Lord” above our circumstances? [21:23]
3. What is the significance of the word “though” in Habakkuk’s declaration, and how does it shape his response to trouble? [01:16:00]
4. How does the image of God making our feet “like the feet of a deer” help us understand spiritual adaptability? [01:39:28]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Habakkuk choose to rejoice in God even when everything around him is failing? What does this reveal about the source of his joy? [01:16:00]
2. The sermon says, “Joy is not something that simply happens to us; it is a spiritual discipline that must be practiced.” What does it look like to practice joy as a discipline, especially in hard times? [01:20:22]
3. The pastor talks about refusing to let “what’s sick in the soil make you sick in your soul.” What does this mean in practical terms for how we respond to negativity or injustice in the world? [01:34:10]
4. How does God’s promise to make our feet like the deer’s relate to the idea of being able to stand and move in “unstable, high places” in life? [01:39:28]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to “magnify the Lord” above our problems. What is one specific problem or worry in your life right now that feels big? How could you intentionally make God “bigger” than that problem this week? [21:23]
2. Habakkuk prepared his heart in advance for hard times by anchoring his joy in God, not in circumstances. What are some ways you can practice gratitude and contentment daily, even before trouble comes? [01:20:22]
3. The pastor said, “Any fool can be miserable. Joy takes discipline.” When have you found it easier to be miserable than joyful? What would it look like for you to choose joy on a hard day? [01:06:57]
4. Is there a situation or person in your life where you are tempted to let the “toxicity” of the world poison your soul? What would it look like to make a “soul-strengthening determination” to protect your joy in that area? [01:34:10]
5. The sermon encourages us to “practice joy in advance.” What is one practical way you can rehearse or prepare your “though” response before a crisis hits? (For example, a daily prayer, a gratitude journal, or a worship habit.) [01:26:46]
6. When have you experienced a “high place” in life that felt unstable or overwhelming? Looking back, how did God give you the strength or adaptability to stand? [01:39:28]
7. The pastor invited everyone to be honest about times when joy is hard to find. If you’re in that place now, what is one step you can take this week to talk to God honestly about it and still say “though I will rejoice”? [01:54:39]