Finding Joy Amidst Life's Challenges

Devotional

Day 1: Joy in Worship

Worship is not just about singing songs; it's about expressing our joy and gratitude to God. Even when life is tough, we can find joy in worship by focusing on who God is and His faithfulness. This joy should be evident in our faces and actions, serving as a powerful witness to others. [28:33]

Psalm 100:1-2 (ESV): "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!"

Reflection: How can you express your joy and gratitude to God in your daily worship, even when facing challenges?

Day 2: Praise in Hardship

The Bible is filled with examples of people who praised God despite their difficult circumstances. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego praised God in the fiery furnace, and Paul praised God from prison. These stories remind us that our joy is not dependent on our circumstances but on our relationship with God. [33:22]

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (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."

Reflection: Think of a recent hardship you faced. How can you find ways to praise God in the midst of your struggles?

Day 3: Finding Levity

Maintaining joy often involves finding humor and lightness in difficult situations. This doesn't mean we ignore the seriousness of our challenges, but rather, we look for the positive and keep our hearts light. This approach helps us to move forward and not be overwhelmed by negativity. [37:14]

Proverbs 17:22 (ESV): "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Reflection: What is one way you can bring humor or lightness into a challenging situation you are currently facing?

Day 4: Glimmers of God

Even in the worst tragedies, there are always glimmers of God's presence. It could be a kind word from a stranger or an unexpected act of love. Recognizing these moments helps us to maintain our joy and see God's hand at work, even in difficult times. [39:06]

Isaiah 43:2 (ESV): "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."

Reflection: Can you recall a moment of God's presence in a difficult time? How did it help you maintain your joy?

Day 5: Joy as a Witness

Our joy is a powerful testimony to the world. When we maintain our joy despite life's challenges, we show others the transformative power of God's love. This joy is not about having a perfect life but about trusting in God's goodness and faithfulness. [44:12]

1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV): "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Reflection: How can your joy in Christ serve as a witness to those around you today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone! It's a joy to be worshiping with you today, whether you're here in person or joining us online. As we gather on this Memorial Day weekend, let's remember the sacrifices made by those who have given their lives for our freedoms. We are grateful for their service and the privilege we have to worship freely.

Today, we are concluding our "Make It Fun" series, focusing on the theme of joy. We've been exploring the book of Ecclesiastes, specifically Ecclesiastes 8:15, which encourages us to enjoy life despite its challenges. This week, we delve deeper into what it means to have joy in our hearts, even when life is difficult.

We began by singing "If You're Happy and You Know It," a simple yet profound reminder that our joy should be visible. If we're happy, our faces should show it. This ties into our scripture reading from Ecclesiastes, which emphasizes the importance of enjoying life and finding happiness in our daily activities.

As we transition into our scripture study, we reflect on Psalm 47, which calls us to clap our hands and shout to God with joyful praise. This Psalm highlights the difference between praise and worship. Praise is about acknowledging who God is, while worship is our offering to God. Even in difficult times, we can still praise God for His goodness and faithfulness.

We then moved into a time of confession and communion, a sacred moment where we acknowledge our shortcomings and receive God's forgiveness. Communion is a powerful reminder that God fully sees us and knows us, and it is a time to be filled with His Spirit and joy.

Reflecting on the hardships we face, I shared personal experiences and biblical examples of people who praised God despite their circumstances. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego praised God even in the fiery furnace, and the Apostle Paul praised God from prison. These stories remind us that joy is not dependent on our circumstances but on our relationship with God.

As we prepare for the summer, let's focus on maintaining our joy. Life can be challenging, but we must find ways to keep our hearts light and joyful. This might mean finding humor in difficult situations or recognizing the small glimmers of God's presence in our lives. Joy is a powerful witness to the world, showing that we are filled with the love of Jesus.

In closing, I prayed for God's guidance and strength to help us maintain our joy. I encouraged everyone to seek joy in their daily lives and to be a light to others. As we leave today, let's carry this message of joy with us and share it with those around us.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Joy in Worship: Worship is not just about singing songs; it's about expressing our joy and gratitude to God. Even when life is tough, we can find joy in worship by focusing on who God is and His faithfulness. This joy should be evident in our faces and actions, serving as a powerful witness to others. [28:33]
2. Praise in Hardship: The Bible is filled with examples of people who praised God despite their difficult circumstances. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego praised God in the fiery furnace, and Paul praised God from prison. These stories remind us that our joy is not dependent on our circumstances but on our relationship with God. [33:22]
3. Finding Levity: Maintaining joy often involves finding humor and lightness in difficult situations. This doesn't mean we ignore the seriousness of our challenges, but rather, we look for the positive and keep our hearts light. This approach helps us to move forward and not be overwhelmed by negativity. [37:14]
4. Glimmers of God: Even in the worst tragedies, there are always glimmers of God's presence. It could be a kind word from a stranger or an unexpected act of love. Recognizing these moments helps us to maintain our joy and see God's hand at work, even in difficult times. [39:06]
5. Joy as a Witness: Our joy is a powerful testimony to the world. When we maintain our joy despite life's challenges, we show others the transformative power of God's love. This joy is not about having a perfect life but about trusting in God's goodness and faithfulness. [44:12]
### [44:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[09:30] - Call to Worship
[25:20] - Prayer and Offering
[26:45] - Scripture Reading and Kids Club
[28:33] - Joy in Worship
[29:54] - Ecclesiastes 8:15
[30:40] - Enjoying Life
[31:39] - Psalm 47
[33:22] - Praise in Hardship
[37:14] - Finding Levity
[39:06] - Glimmers of God
[44:12] - Joy as a Witness
[45:16] - Closing Prayer
[46:11] - Communion
[49:04] - Communion Instructions
[61:34] - Upcoming Series
[62:19] - Final Thoughts
[62:59] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Ecclesiastes 8:15 suggest about the relationship between joy and daily life?
According to Psalm 47, what actions are we encouraged to take to express our joy and praise to God?
In the sermon, what examples were given of people who praised God despite their difficult circumstances? ([35:01])
How does the pastor differentiate between praise and worship in the sermon? ([32:31])

Interpretation Questions

How can the message of Ecclesiastes 8:15 be applied to our modern-day lives, especially when facing daily challenges?
What does Psalm 47 teach us about the nature of God and how we should respond to Him in both good and bad times?
Reflecting on the examples of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and the Apostle Paul, what can we learn about maintaining joy in the face of adversity? ([35:01])
How does the concept of finding levity in difficult situations help us maintain our joy, according to the sermon? ([37:14])

Application Questions

Think about a recent hardship you faced. How did you respond, and how might you incorporate joy and praise into similar situations in the future? ([35:01])
The pastor mentioned the importance of showing joy on our faces. How can you make a conscious effort to let your joy be visible to others this week? ([28:33])
Identify a specific way you can find humor or lightness in a current challenge you are facing. How might this change your perspective and help you maintain joy? ([37:14])
Can you recall a moment when you saw a "glimmer of God" in a difficult situation? How did that recognition impact your ability to find joy? ([39:06])
How can you use your joy as a witness to others, especially those who may not share your faith? What practical steps can you take to be a light in your community? ([44:12])
Reflect on your worship practices. How can you ensure that your worship is both an offering to God and a genuine expression of your joy and gratitude? ([32:31])
As we prepare for the summer, what specific actions can you take to keep your heart light and joyful, even when life gets busy or challenging? ([42:57])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "So how do we keep joy on our face? Well, I think sometimes we have to remember that when bad things happen, we have to find the positive in it. Now, let me rephrase that for a second. I'm not saying that all bad things are good, and I'm not saying we should make light of everything that's bad, but I'm saying is that sometimes we need to find the positive and keep things light, keep levity in our heart. Sometimes it takes a time. All right, something bad might happen, and it might take a little bit of a season to get past it, to be able to find the levity in it, but when we try to find a way to not be so serious with everything in life, it helps us keep the joy." [37:14](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

2. "Levity means when something horrible happens, you find the little sliver of God in that moment. And you praise him for that little sliver. And you recognize that although something horrible happened, God took care of you still. And even in the worst of tragedy, friends, the very worst of tragedy, and I have seen some tragedies, there is always a glimmer of God in the situation, whether it be a person coming to give love and hope, whether it be the stranger that just happened to show up, to give an encouraging word, or someone who just gave an anonymous show of love and didn't have a clue what was happening. There is always glimmers when you look for them." [39:06](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

3. "If there's one thing we can do to show the world that we are filled with the love of Jesus is to be people filled with joy. We can sing all we want and worship all we want. But if we don't have joy on our face. They're going to look at us like people just going through the motions." [44:12](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

4. "It's hard when things don't go our way. That we will be filled by you. As we prepare to come to your table, God, I just ask that you bring to our mind anything that's keeping us from being filled by that so that we may let it go and give it to you. We pray this in your holy name. Amen." [46:11](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "To praise God in the midst of the darkness, in the midst of the pain, in the midst of the suffering, in the midst of the hardship, in the midst of the doubts, that's how as Christians we carry the joy. To worship God when we don't feel like worshiping is how we find the joy. That's the struggle. That's how the world realizes that we're different. That's why when we celebrate life in the Christian church, we do so with singing praise. That's what makes us different. It's because even when we say goodbye to people we love, we praise the fact that we rejoin them again because of the promises of our God." [41:43](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

2. "If we want to focus on what it means to praise God, which is to keep joy in our heart, we really need to focus on the joy being on our face. Because no matter how hard life gets, we do still have a good God. I was reflecting on the scriptures as a whole this week. Do you all know how many times there were things that were going wrong, but people still found ways to praise?" [34:10](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

3. "You got the apostle Paul in the New Testament. Man, Paul got put through a lot of hardships. He got put in prison who knows how many times. I mean, somebody knows, I don't. He got put in prison time and time again. He was almost stoned just because he affected the economy of cities. I mean, he was constantly up against things, but he writes in his letters time and time again, I praise God for what you are doing. And I imagine from prison, as many of his letters were written from prison, that as he was writing this to the churches, that there was a smile of joy on his face as he told these churches, I praise God for what you are doing." [36:01](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

4. "My hope is now that as we're moving into summer and it's busy and all these things, you'll think about what you can do to ensure that life doesn't steal your joy. That drama and hardships and relationships and all the things that can come at us doesn't steal your joy. And I work on it constantly, but I'll tell you what I've gotten better at. Now as I start year 10 of ministry, year one, it could take me three weeks to get back to my place of joy. And now it's just days because God's given me guidance. Guidance and centering and strength and the spiritual disciplines to get back what the world tries to take." [42:57](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

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