Who You Are Now, is Who You Are

We often imagine the “perfect life” as a checklist of accomplishments, relationships, and experiences, but rarely do we consider how long it would need to last or what truly makes it meaningful. The truth is, no matter how many boxes we check, life is finite, and the real question is not what we achieve, but who we become. We tend to put off the cultivation of character—what might be called “eulogy virtues”—for some later stage, assuming we’ll have time. But who we are now is who we are, and if our lives ended today, that is how we would be remembered.

Reflecting on the life of Laura, a young woman whose joy was unmistakable, we see that joy is not about a life free from suffering or filled with constant excitement. Rather, joy is an abiding sense of well-being, a fruit that grows from where we place our focus. Joy is not something we get by chasing after it directly; it is the result of choosing to trust, to love, and to let ourselves be loved. The opposite of joy is not simply sadness, but a life marked by cynicism, skepticism, and self-protection—a refusal to trust and to be open to love.

The Gospel stories remind us that joy is rooted in love. The father’s joy at the return of his lost son, the shepherd’s joy at finding the lost sheep, the woman’s joy at recovering her coin—all are invitations to rejoice because of love restored and relationships renewed. Yet, how often do we miss out on joy because we refuse to let ourselves be celebrated, seen, or loved? Like the older son in the parable, we can be so focused on what we lack or what we think we deserve that we miss the invitation to enter into the joy that is already being offered.

Laura’s life, though short, was full because she surrendered both her suffering and her joy to God, trusting that He wanted heaven for her. Her joy was not a denial of hardship, but a deep trust in God’s love—a trust that allowed her to show up for God and others, even when life was hard. This is the invitation for all of us: to stop waiting for the perfect circumstances, to stop holding back from God’s love, and to let ourselves be drawn into the joy that comes from trusting and loving Him.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The pursuit of a “perfect life” often distracts us from the deeper question of who we are becoming. Our character—our eulogy virtues—are not something to be postponed for later years, but are formed in the choices we make today. Who we are now is who we will be remembered as, and the time to cultivate virtue is always now. [04:28]
• 2. Joy is not a fleeting feeling or the absence of suffering, but an abiding sense of well-being that arises from our focus. When we focus on cynicism, skepticism, or self-protection, we close ourselves off from joy. True joy is the fruit of choosing to trust, to love, and to let ourselves be loved, even in the midst of hardship. [08:27]
• 3. The source of our sadness is not suffering itself, but the lens through which we view our circumstances. When we see life through suspicion and distrust, we become closed off to love and, therefore, to joy. Trust is essential for love, and love is the wellspring of joy; without trust, we cannot enter into the fullness of joy God desires for us. [11:21]
• 4. Allowing ourselves to be loved and celebrated is often the hardest step toward joy. Like the prodigal son, we may resist being seen or receiving love, thinking we are unworthy or preferring to remain hidden. Yet, joy comes when we accept God’s invitation to be brought into His house, to be clothed, fed, and celebrated—not because of our achievements, but because we are His beloved children. [11:48]
• 5. Joy is not something we manufacture by sheer willpower, but the natural consequence of showing up for God and others, especially in difficulty. Laura’s life exemplified this: she kept showing up, trusting God’s love, and letting that love overflow to those around her. The invitation is to stop waiting for perfect circumstances and to let God love us now, trusting that His love is the true source of lasting joy. [22:07]
  ** [22:07]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:12] - Imagining the Perfect Life
• [01:19] - How Long Would the Perfect Life Last?
• [03:02] - Living in Fear of Imperfection
• [03:40] - Eulogy Virtues: Who Will I Be?
• [04:28] - Who You Are Now Is Who You Are
• [06:03] - Laura’s Story: A Life Marked by Joy
• [07:01] - What Is Joy?
• [08:27] - Joy as the Fruit of Our Focus
• [09:42] - The Source of Sadness
• [10:28] - Trust, Love, and the Origin of Joy
• [11:48] - The Challenge of Being Loved
• [12:51] - The Strive Tribe: Community and Perseverance
• [15:05] - Laura’s Legacy: A Thick Eulogy
• [17:25] - Christian Joy: Knowing You Are God’s Child
• [19:29] - Sadness and the Lens of Suspicion
• [20:03] - Count It All Joy: Trusting God Now
• [21:29] - Choosing the Source of Joy
• [22:07] - Showing Up for God and Receiving His Love

Bible Reading

Luke 15:1-32 (ESV) — (Parables of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Prodigal Son)

> 1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
> 3 So he told them this parable:
> 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ ...
> [Read the full passage: Luke 15:1-32](https://www.esv.org/Luke+15/)

James 1:2-4 (ESV) — > 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Observation Questions

1. In the parables Jesus tells in Luke 15, what is the common response when something lost is found? What does the person do and who do they invite to join them?
2. According to James 1:2-4, what are believers told to do when they face trials, and what is the intended result of those trials?
3. In the sermon, what was said to be the main characteristic that marked Laura’s life? ([06:17])
4. What does the sermon say is the real source of sadness, if not suffering or difficult circumstances? ([09:29])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus uses stories of lost things being found to teach about joy? What does this reveal about God’s heart?
2. The sermon says, “Joy is the fruit of our focus.” What does it mean to focus on trust and love rather than cynicism or self-protection? ([08:27])
3. The older son in the parable refuses to enter the celebration. What might this say about our own resistance to being loved or celebrated by God? ([11:48])
4. The sermon mentions that “who you are now is who you are” and that we often put off growing in character. Why is it dangerous to wait to cultivate “eulogy virtues”? ([04:28])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to stop waiting for perfect circumstances before we let God love us. Is there an area of your life where you are “waiting” for things to be just right before you open yourself to God’s love or joy? What would it look like to stop waiting and trust Him now? ([22:07])
2. Laura’s life was marked by showing up for God and others, even when life was hard. Is there a specific relationship or commitment where you need to “just keep showing up,” even if you don’t feel joyful? What’s one step you can take this week? ([13:04])
3. The sermon says that the source of sadness is often cynicism, skepticism, or self-protection. Are there ways you see these attitudes in your own life? How do they affect your ability to experience joy? ([09:29])
4. The parables in Luke 15 show God’s joy in restoring relationships. Is there a relationship in your life that needs to be restored or celebrated? What is one practical thing you could do to move toward reconciliation or deeper connection?
5. The older son missed out on joy because he focused on what he lacked or deserved. Are there areas where you are focused on what you don’t have, rather than on God’s love for you? How can you shift your focus this week? ([18:48])
6. The sermon says, “Allowing ourselves to be loved and celebrated is often the hardest step toward joy.” Do you find it difficult to let others love or celebrate you? Why or why not? What would it look like to let yourself be loved by God and others this week? ([11:48])
7. James 1:2-4 calls us to “count it all joy” in trials. Can you think of a current or past hardship where you saw God produce something good in you? How might you approach your next trial differently in light of this? ([20:03])