Latest / Grounded Growth / Joy That Doesn't Depend on Circumstances
Transcript
- Stephanie Petry: Hi, welcome to. Nicole Ghirardi: Hi, welcome to Grounded Growth Podcast. I'm Nicole Girardi. And I'm Stephanie Petrie. We believe that grounded growth comes from being intentional about compassionate connections that are beautifully balanced while flourishing in faithfulness. Each week we will share real conversations, encouragement, and simple systems to help build a life that feels steady, aligned, and grounded. So sit back, maybe grab a coffee, and join us where clarity meets calm and growth feels intentional. Stephanie Petry: And I'm Stephanie Petrie. We believe that grounded growth comes from being intentional about compassionate connections that are beautifully balanced while flourishing in faithfulness. Each week we will share real conversations, encouragement, and simple systems to help build a life that feels steady, aligned, and grounded. So sit back, maybe grab a coffee, and join us where clarity meets calm and growth feels intentional. Before we dive in, if you want to make sure you never miss a conversation, hit that subscribe or follow button. Nicole Ghirardi: Before we dive in, if you want to make sure you never miss a conversation, hit that subscribe or follow button right now on whatever app you're listening on. Stephanie Petry: right now on whatever app you're listening on. Nicole Ghirardi: Hi, welcome to the Grounded Growth Podcast. I'm Stephanie Petrie. I'm Nicole Girardi. Today we are continuing our series of fruit that blasts. So last week we talked about love and the foundation from which all of the other fruit grows. And today we're going to be talking about joy. And I think this is one of the most misunderstood fruits of the spirit. we often use the words happy and joyful interchangeably, but scripture doesn't. Happiness rises and falls based on our circumstance and what's happening in our lives. And joy is rooted in someone who never changes. And if we're honest, many of us are chasing temporary joys, vacations, accomplishments, a clean house, successful launch. Can get away or finally getting caught up on that to-do list. but those things are, even though they're good gifts from God, they were never meant to be the source of your joy. scripture teaches that God Himself is our joy. Lasting joy is not something we create, it is something we receive as we abide in Him. My prayer today is that we leave understanding that joy isn't pretending life is easy. It's knowing that even when life is hard, God is still good, still present, and still enough. So before we talk about how to hold on to joy, we first have to answer a bigger question. What exactly is biblical joy? So biblical joy isn't the absence of hardship. it is the presence of Christ in the middle of it. A lot of times when I'm speaking with unbelievers or some friends that may not be practicing Christianity, they just think that Christians don't have problems. Like once you become a Christian, it's everything's great. but that's not what is true. we definitely still have hardships. we definitely still have challenges and we're still tempted and we're still sinners. the difference is the joy we have in Christ. Joy is rooted in who God is and not in what is happening around us because he never changes. Our joy doesn't have to disappear every time life becomes difficult. and one of my favorite passages, Habakkuk 3, 17 through 19, Habakkuk describes losing nearly everything. No fruit on the vines, no livestock in the fields, no visible provision. And he says, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will take joy in the God of my salvation. Notice he doesn't rejoice because of his circumstance. He knows that life's not going well and it stinks. But he rejoices in the Lord, not in circumstance. Joy is confidence that God is still writing the story, even when we can't yet see the ending. And temporary pleasures, they come and go. Eternal joy comes from belonging to Christ. And I used to think joy was a personality type. You were either like a naturally sunny, glass half full person, or you were me, the busy, never living in the moment, dreading tomorrow, dwelling on the negatives in life, half glass kind of empty kind of gal. It took me a long time to learn that joy was never about personality at all. the difference I keep coming back to is this happiness is tied to what is happening around me. Joy is tied to. Who is holding me? And he does not change when my circumstances do. I think of Paul and Silas in Acts 16, sitting in prison cell with their feet in the chains, singing hymns at midnight. They were not happy about jail, but they had a joy that jail could not touch. And it was loud enough that the other prisoners were listening. That's the kind of joy that I want. not a forced smile, but something steady underneath me, even when the day is hard. why is joy something so many of us struggle to hold on to? And why does it feel like it slips through our fingers so easily? So some weeks I do not feel much joy. And the first move is to blame the weak or blame the people around me instead of asking what is actually going on in my heart. a lot of us are waiting for life to finally calm down before we let ourselves feel joy. But life rarely calms down for long. And I do not want to keep postponing joy until some quiet season that may never come. The thief for me is almost always comparison. Scrolling through everyone else's highlight reels steals more of my joy than genuinely. Our day ever can. so it rhymes reminds me of the older brother in the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. He was standing in his father's house with everything already his, too busy resenting his brother to enjoy any of it. I do that more than I would like to admit, but thankfully I am God's work in progress. Amen to that. We naturally anchor our emotions to changing circumstances instead of God's unchanging character. I want to note that it is naturally the way that we do things. So do not hear what we're not saying. It's not that we are always going to God and we are perfect. No, we I hope we're being transparent enough for you to realize we struggle with these things too. Very much so. And and these these conversations we have are to remind us as well. And that is why we keep talking about going back to scripture and learning more so that we have these truths in our heart. So when it does happen, we're able to have our reaction become a little more about God and who he is rather than what we're experiencing. Busyness quietly steals our ability to notice God's goodness. This one's a big one for me too. I get so wrapped up in the doing and what's next instead of just being present and noticing his goodness in it. and Sally Clarkson, one of my favorite authors, talks about our culture wearing busyness like a badge of honor. How true is that in our culture? and as though constant activity equals significance. Whew. I know a lot of women that need to hear that this is not the way we're supposed to be. Wearing busyness like a badge of honor. As the constant activity equals significance. She even describes what she calls sawdust souls. These are hearts that have become so exhausted and depleted that they've lost the ability to experience deep joy. We become so focused on accomplishing that next thing that we forget to delight in the things that God gave us today. We often mistake comfort for joy as well. but scripture promises something much better than a comfortable life. It promises Christ's presence. And that is the anchor that we need to be going towards. And when we lose sight of that, the effects begin showing up in ways we don't always recognize. So what does it look like when we lose our joy? Well, I think we become discouraged even when God is still faithfully providing. you know, we may not be recognizing how he is providing for us in that time. gratitude slowly turns into entitlement because we begin noticing what's missing more than what God has already given. and we become emotionally exhausted too, trying to create joy, either through achievement, productivity, constant entertainment. Maybe even numbing with binge watching, or for me, going to grab that ice cream to make myself feel better. let's say that yes, that's a temporary joy, but it keeps giving in the waistline. our faith starts feeling heavy because we're trying to carry burdens that God never intended us to carry. In Psalm 126, Israel remembers God's past faithfulness before asking him to restore them again. And they don't ignore their sorrow. I think that's important for us to realize too. Don't ignore the sorrow. But neither do they forget God's goodness. It's a balance. Laura's story, she is a Christian artist, great music. She has a very devastating story of her husband having a brain tumor. And she wrote a book called When God Doesn't Fix It. Fantastic book. I read it while my husband had cancer. And it is that two realities can exist at the same time. We can experience deep sorrow and deep joy. Brokenness belongs to this world. Joy belongs to the Lord. And both often exist together. And for me, losing joy is kind of the feeling that I had with the last episode about losing love, is is that it looks like it's me immediately snapping at my family. I feel like that's just kind of unfortunately the first reaction that I get over the little things because I'm running on empty and calling it a bad mood instead of really naming what it really is. And so, you know, it's my my death of me of of is is the scrolling. Scrolling for a phone like on my phone for an hour, trying to feel better and it's really making it feel worse when I when I put it down. So I deleted Facebook off my phone. I deleted the TikTok and Instagram off my phone because I started realizing that. Of course, it started with just giving myself a little time and then I would cheat. And then I would say, I I can give it just give me another, you know, 30 minutes. But then I'm like, no, I it makes me feel icky afterwards. And I'm like, I don't need it. I get on social media with work and I have to get on my computer to do it. So I'm in a whole different other mindset for it. losing joy is usually not one big moment either for me. it's a slow drift of small days where I stop noticing the good things God is doing right in front of me. And what brings me back is always God's word. Remembering out loud what God has already done. The grief and gratitude can share the same room. And naming his fulfill faithfulness is often the first step back towards joy. And that's why I do my roots journal. every morning because I am able to walk through that and talk about what I'm thankful for and doing that and then being able to wrap it up at night with what I am you know thankful for again. So I'm I'm bringing it back so then I'm not letting all of the other world when worldly things get in my way. thankfully Jesus never tells us to manufacture joy on our own. instead, he continually points us back to himself, the only lasting source of it. Nehemiah 8:10 says, The joy of the Lord is your strength. So, what does Jesus show us about his joy? So, when I actually read the gospels, Jesus is not the serious, joyless figure I sometimes picture him to be. His very first miracle was keeping the joy of going at a wedding and Kana. In John chapter two, turning water into wine for the celebration so would not end. So I mean, I you can't go wrong. You can't go wrong with that. Favorite story. Yes. He he welcomed the little and of course, according to Travis and and Joe, you know, wine is all we do. That's all we do. So He welcomed the little children when the disciples tried to shoe them away. And he clearly loved sharing a meal with the very people everyone else avoided. And his joy did not come from easy circumstances. Hebrews says it was for the joy set before him that he endured the cross. His joy was anchored in the Father, not in that moment. And that tells me joy is available to me right in the middle of my mess, not only after I I clean it up. Jesus lived with perfect joy even while walking toward the cross because his joy rested in accomplishing the Father's will. He never promised an easy life, but he continually promised his presence. Every miracle, every meal, every conversation reminded people that true life was found in him. And our joy isn't found in changing our circumstances, it is found in belonging to Christ, who has already secured our grace. greatest hope through his death and resurrection. Because of the gospel, we know our future is secure, our sins are forgiven, and our identity is settled. That's a joy no circumstance can take away. Paul praised something beautiful for believers in Colossians one, nine through fourteen. He asks that we would be filled with the knowledge of God's will, strength, strengthened with his power, and then says we're to have all endurance and patience with joy. That's remarkable. Biblical joy isn't waiting until life gets easier. It's the spirit producing joy, even when while we endure. So here are some tips and tricks on how to grow in joy every day in life. Practice remembering that God is faithful. Joy grows when we intentionally remember what God has already done instead of only focusing on what we're still waiting for. Look for God's fingerprints every day. Sally Clarkson includes this in her legacy statement. I resolve to see God's fingerprints, fingerprints each day of my life. Sometimes joy begins simply by slowing down enough to notice God's daily mercies. Choose gratitude before feelings catch up. joy often follows obedience rather than preceding it. And live by God's promises instead of your emotions. Sally Clarkson also wrote about choosing each day to believe God's promises, trust that he hears our prayers and rely on his grace for every trial. joy is strengthened every time we preach truth to ourselves instead of letting our circumstances preach to us and hold both grief and hope together. Laura's story reminds us through James 1, 2 through 5, that trials produce steadfastness. We don't rejoice because suffering is good. We rejoice because God is doing something good through our suffering. And joy doesn't deny pain, it declares that Christ is greater than the pain. And if that's not enough of practical tips and tricks, I've got a couple more. remember what God has already done for us. Joy grows when we rehearse his faithfulness instead of rehearsing our worries. And keep a running list of answered prayers to look back on when the day feels heavy. another one is rejoice before the feelings show up. So gratitude usually comes first and joy follows close behind. Name one good thing out loud each morning or write it in your roots journal and even on the hard days. another one is refuse the comparison trap. comparison steals more joy than almost any real circumstance does. Put the phone down when scrolling, start stealing your contentment. And last is root yourself in his presence. Lasting joy is received as we stay close to him, not manufactured by trying harder. So let time and scripture and prayer be the soil your joy grows in. The beautiful thing about joy is that it isn't something we have to chase either. As we stay close to Christ, the source of our joy, it becomes the steady current underneath every season in our life. And wrapping this podcast up, if you take nothing else from today, take this joy is not a personality trait you were born with or without. It is a gift you get to open again every single day, no matter what kind of day it has been. Real joy is available to you in this exact moment, whether this was a hard week or a good one, because it was never based on the week in the first place. You do not have to pretend to be fine to have joy. Like David did all through the Psalms, you can be completely honest with God about where you are and still find your strength in Him. It is not your joy that is your strength. It is the joy of the Lord. He is the source and not and no circumstance can drain it dry. This week, instead of asking what would make me happier, maybe ask, where have I seen God's goodness today? Joy isn't found in finally reaching the finish line of your to-do list. It is found in walking with Jesus right now. No circumstance can separate you from his love, his presence, or his promises. So if today feels heavy, don't wait for your circumstance to change before choosing joy. It is a choice. Run to the one who never changes. The deepest joy isn't found in a perfect life. It is found in our faithful Savior. So next week we're going to continue this series and we're going to talk about peace in the middle of the noise. Because in a world full of constant distractions, anxiety, and pressure, Jesus offers a peace that isn't the absence of chaos, it's the presence of God in the middle of it. Can't wait. Bye. Bye. Thank you for joining us for another episode of Grounded Growth. We hope today brought you clarity, encouragement, and a gentle reminder that you're not walking this journey alone. If this episode spoke to you, we'd love for you to share it, subscribe, and leave a review. We'll see you next week. Until then, Stephanie Petry: Thank you for joining us for another episode of Grounded Growth. We hope today brought you clarity, encouragement, and a gentle reminder that you're not walking this journey alone. If this episode spoke to you, we'd love for you to share it, subscribe, and leave a review. We'll see you next week. Until then, stay grounded and keep growing. Nicole Ghirardi: stay grounded and keep growing.