WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:05.798 --> 00:00:08.198 Rusty George: That's what we all sound like at Christmas, isn't it? 00:00:09.698 --> 00:00:11.348 Oh, how wonderful to see you. 00:00:11.888 --> 00:00:13.988 And yet you haven't called in six months. 00:00:14.078 --> 00:00:15.068 The kids are doing great. 00:00:15.308 --> 00:00:16.238 One's failing math. 00:00:16.238 --> 00:00:17.348 The other won't talk to us. 00:00:17.738 --> 00:00:18.668 Work's been amazing. 00:00:19.178 --> 00:00:20.708 I cried in my car on Tuesday. 00:00:21.398 --> 00:00:22.598 We perform joy. 00:00:22.988 --> 00:00:27.938 We don't experience it because here's the truth, a lot of us have forgotten 00:00:27.938 --> 00:00:30.188 what real joy even feels like. 00:00:31.388 --> 00:00:33.188 We've confused joy with happiness. 00:00:33.578 --> 00:00:38.228 We've buried joy under expectations, disappointments, and the exhausting 00:00:38.228 --> 00:00:40.118 pressure to keep it all together. 00:00:41.078 --> 00:00:45.068 But what if I told you that joy isn't something you perform, it's 00:00:45.068 --> 00:00:49.958 something you rediscover, and it's been waiting for you all along. 00:01:09.371 --> 00:01:10.421 Let me ask you something. 00:01:10.781 --> 00:01:15.131 When's the last time you felt truly joyful, not happy, not 00:01:15.131 --> 00:01:19.901 entertained, not distracted, but joyful because there's a difference. 00:01:20.576 --> 00:01:24.236 Happiness depends on happenings, circumstances going your 00:01:24.236 --> 00:01:26.606 way, joy, it's deeper. 00:01:27.416 --> 00:01:33.416 It's a settled confidence that transcends circumstances, but 00:01:33.416 --> 00:01:35.426 somewhere along the way, we lost it. 00:01:36.656 --> 00:01:40.886 Let me give you the four biggest joy thieves. 00:01:41.666 --> 00:01:43.646 Number one comparison. 00:01:44.576 --> 00:01:48.386 Social media has turned us all into professional comparers. 00:01:48.986 --> 00:01:50.696 Everyone's vacation looks better. 00:01:50.756 --> 00:01:54.476 Everyone's kids seems smarter, everyone's marriage looks happier. 00:01:55.556 --> 00:01:59.156 Theodore Roosevelt said, comparison is the thief of joy. 00:01:59.906 --> 00:02:01.556 And that was before social media. 00:02:01.701 --> 00:02:02.666 And he was right. 00:02:03.356 --> 00:02:09.566 He didn't even have Instagram or X or Snapchat or whatever 00:02:10.046 --> 00:02:11.426 he was even before MySpace. 00:02:12.476 --> 00:02:15.806 We're constantly measuring ourselves against other people's highlight 00:02:15.806 --> 00:02:20.216 reels and wondering why our behind the scenes just doesn't measure up. 00:02:21.386 --> 00:02:23.516 Here's the second one, expectations. 00:02:24.386 --> 00:02:26.756 We thought this job would fulfill us. 00:02:27.266 --> 00:02:29.126 This relationship would complete us. 00:02:29.396 --> 00:02:31.106 This house would satisfy us. 00:02:31.556 --> 00:02:35.936 These kids would appreciate us, and when reality doesn't match 00:02:35.936 --> 00:02:39.386 expectations, disappointment kills joy. 00:02:40.736 --> 00:02:45.476 I thought when our church hit a certain size, I'd feel successful. 00:02:46.106 --> 00:02:48.026 Then we hit that number, and guess what? 00:02:48.026 --> 00:02:50.486 I felt the pressure to hit the next one. 00:02:51.236 --> 00:02:53.966 Expectations are Joys, assassin. 00:02:54.866 --> 00:02:57.176 Here's the third, joy Steeler. 00:02:57.956 --> 00:03:03.146 We're so busy doing life that we forget to enjoy life, and so busyness takes over. 00:03:03.836 --> 00:03:08.006 Someone once asked me, rusty, what are you rushing towards? 00:03:08.546 --> 00:03:09.296 I didn't have an answer. 00:03:10.166 --> 00:03:11.036 I was just rushing. 00:03:12.116 --> 00:03:14.756 Busyness is that thing that we often say to each other. 00:03:14.756 --> 00:03:16.406 It makes us feel good about ourselves. 00:03:16.556 --> 00:03:17.156 How you doing? 00:03:17.486 --> 00:03:17.936 Busy. 00:03:18.836 --> 00:03:24.116 We've traded joy for efficiency, and we're efficient, but we're miserable. 00:03:25.226 --> 00:03:26.186 Here's the fourth one. 00:03:26.546 --> 00:03:27.086 Guilt. 00:03:27.836 --> 00:03:31.616 I should be grateful other people have it worse. 00:03:32.216 --> 00:03:33.836 What right do I have to complain? 00:03:34.526 --> 00:03:39.086 So we suppress our struggles, fake a smile, and bury our joy under guilt. 00:03:40.781 --> 00:03:41.651 But here's what's wild. 00:03:42.341 --> 00:03:45.731 The Bible talks about joy over 150 times. 00:03:46.241 --> 00:03:50.681 Clearly, God thinks it's important, and the angels didn't show up to 00:03:50.681 --> 00:03:54.521 the shepherds and say, I bring you mediocre news of mild contentment. 00:03:55.721 --> 00:04:00.011 They said, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the world. 00:04:01.301 --> 00:04:03.251 So where do we find it? 00:04:03.731 --> 00:04:04.691 Where's the joy? 00:04:05.351 --> 00:04:08.411 Let me take you to the most joyful book in the Bible. 00:04:09.026 --> 00:04:09.686 Philippians. 00:04:10.706 --> 00:04:14.216 Paul writes this letter while he's in prison, chains on 00:04:14.216 --> 00:04:15.926 his wrist, uncertain future. 00:04:15.926 --> 00:04:21.536 Yet Philippians mentions joy or rejoice 16 times in four chapters. 00:04:22.076 --> 00:04:22.496 How? 00:04:23.096 --> 00:04:27.776 Because Paul discovered the secret joy isn't found in circumstances. 00:04:27.776 --> 00:04:29.456 Joy is found in Christ. 00:04:30.446 --> 00:04:33.086 Philippians four, four, he writes, rejoice in the Lord always. 00:04:33.086 --> 00:04:33.896 I'll say it again. 00:04:33.956 --> 00:04:34.586 Rejoice. 00:04:35.306 --> 00:04:37.136 Not rejoice when things go well. 00:04:37.136 --> 00:04:42.776 Not rejoice if you feel like it, but rejoice always because joy in the Lord 00:04:42.776 --> 00:04:44.606 isn't about what's happening to you. 00:04:44.996 --> 00:04:46.616 It's about what's happening in you. 00:04:47.436 --> 00:04:54.496 This week of advent, we light the joy candle, often called the shepherds candle. 00:04:55.396 --> 00:04:56.296 Why shepherds? 00:04:56.956 --> 00:05:01.186 Because when the angels appeared to the shepherds in Luke two, they were the last 00:05:01.186 --> 00:05:04.036 people you'd expect to receive good news. 00:05:04.801 --> 00:05:11.191 Shepherds were outcast, richly, unclean, poor, forgotten, and yet God chose 00:05:11.251 --> 00:05:16.381 them to receive the announcement of the greatest joy the world has ever known. 00:05:32.442 --> 00:05:36.822 The message joy isn't reserved for people who have it all together. 00:05:37.272 --> 00:05:40.842 Joy is for the broken, the forgotten the outsiders. 00:05:41.412 --> 00:05:43.272 Joy is for you. 00:05:44.442 --> 00:05:48.252 In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah writes in chapter eight, verse 10, 00:05:48.312 --> 00:05:50.922 the joy of the Lord is your strength. 00:05:51.402 --> 00:05:52.302 It's interesting, isn't it? 00:05:52.452 --> 00:05:54.612 Not your joy, but his joy. 00:05:55.662 --> 00:05:58.962 When you're too tired, too discouraged, too broken to muster joy 00:05:58.962 --> 00:06:02.232 on your own, you tap into his joy. 00:06:02.862 --> 00:06:04.782 His joy is like an underground spring. 00:06:05.112 --> 00:06:05.712 It doesn't run dry. 00:06:06.462 --> 00:06:08.382 It doesn't depend on circumstances. 00:06:08.382 --> 00:06:10.452 It flows from his presence. 00:06:11.022 --> 00:06:14.292 And when you're connected to him, his joy becomes your strength. 00:06:15.162 --> 00:06:18.042 So how do we rediscover joy? 00:06:18.642 --> 00:06:25.272 Let me give you three practical, simple steps we like simple on this podcast. 00:06:25.302 --> 00:06:26.082 So here we go. 00:06:26.712 --> 00:06:29.472 Number one, practice gratitude. 00:06:30.192 --> 00:06:31.482 Science backs this up. 00:06:31.722 --> 00:06:35.562 Studies show that people who regularly practice gratitude, experience better 00:06:35.562 --> 00:06:41.412 mental health, stronger relationships, more optimism, and yes, more joy. 00:06:42.522 --> 00:06:46.962 This week, every day write down three things you are grateful for. 00:06:47.412 --> 00:06:52.962 Not huge things, small things, hot coffee, a text from a friend, your 00:06:52.962 --> 00:06:54.462 kid laughing at your dumb joke. 00:06:54.462 --> 00:06:55.677 Write it down. 00:06:56.817 --> 00:07:01.527 First Thessalonians chapter five, verses 16 through 18 says, rejoice 00:07:01.527 --> 00:07:05.427 always pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances. 00:07:06.117 --> 00:07:10.437 Gratitude shifts your focus from what's missing to what's present. 00:07:11.547 --> 00:07:12.357 Here's the second thing. 00:07:12.597 --> 00:07:13.947 Celebrate small wins. 00:07:14.487 --> 00:07:18.642 We're so focused on the destination that we forget to celebrate the journey. 00:07:19.752 --> 00:07:22.182 Did your kid clean their room without being asked? 00:07:22.392 --> 00:07:27.252 Celebrate, did you resist the urge to scroll through social media for one day? 00:07:27.462 --> 00:07:28.212 Celebrate? 00:07:29.052 --> 00:07:30.552 Did you make it through a tough week? 00:07:30.882 --> 00:07:31.512 Celebrate. 00:07:32.532 --> 00:07:34.722 Stop waiting for the big moment to celebrate. 00:07:35.592 --> 00:07:36.822 Celebrate the small wins. 00:07:37.242 --> 00:07:39.852 Joy lives in the small moments. 00:07:41.202 --> 00:07:42.072 Here's the third thing. 00:07:42.282 --> 00:07:43.602 Choose joy. 00:07:44.007 --> 00:07:45.597 Yes, it is a choice. 00:07:45.987 --> 00:07:47.967 Paul said, I have learned to be content. 00:07:47.967 --> 00:07:52.647 Whatever the circumstances I have learned, it didn't come naturally. 00:07:52.917 --> 00:07:54.687 He had to choose it. 00:07:56.007 --> 00:07:57.597 Joy isn't a feeling. 00:07:58.107 --> 00:07:59.427 It's not something you wait for. 00:07:59.967 --> 00:08:01.587 It's a decision you make. 00:08:02.937 --> 00:08:06.087 Years ago when our church faced financial hardship, I was 00:08:06.087 --> 00:08:08.487 stressed, anxious, barely sleeping. 00:08:10.122 --> 00:08:13.752 One morning Lori looked at me and said, rusty, you get to choose. 00:08:14.232 --> 00:08:18.282 You can let this steal your joy or you can trust God and choose joy. 00:08:18.342 --> 00:08:22.182 Anyway, I wish I could say I immediately chose joy. 00:08:22.182 --> 00:08:22.992 I I didn't. 00:08:23.082 --> 00:08:24.882 It was a bit of a tug of war for a while. 00:08:25.302 --> 00:08:28.602 I sulked for another week, but eventually I made the choice, and you know what? 00:08:29.052 --> 00:08:32.532 The circumstances didn't change right away, but I changed. 00:08:33.372 --> 00:08:35.232 Joy isn't about circumstances. 00:08:35.772 --> 00:08:36.972 It's about perspective. 00:08:38.667 --> 00:08:44.367 Hebrews 12, two says that Jesus, for the joy set before him endured the cross. 00:08:44.877 --> 00:08:45.537 Think about that. 00:08:46.557 --> 00:08:52.407 Jesus endured the worst suffering imaginable for joy, not despite 00:08:52.407 --> 00:08:59.367 suffering for joy, because he knew what was on the other side, resurrection, 00:08:59.427 --> 00:09:01.887 redemption, and reunion with us. 00:09:02.907 --> 00:09:07.707 And that same joy is available to you, not because your life is perfect, not because 00:09:07.707 --> 00:09:13.347 everything's figured out, but because Jesus has come and his joy is unshakeable. 00:09:14.607 --> 00:09:16.847 This week as you light , the joy candle. 00:09:17.057 --> 00:09:20.357 Remember, joy isn't something you find. 00:09:20.747 --> 00:09:26.057 Joy is something you choose because you are connected to the source 00:09:26.057 --> 00:09:30.587 of all joy and no matter what you're facing, the joy of the Lord. 00:09:31.097 --> 00:09:32.027 Is your strength. 00:09:32.957 --> 00:09:36.197 Next week we're gonna talk about how love came down. 00:09:36.467 --> 00:09:38.147 Until then, keep it simple.