When our circumstances are challenging, it can be difficult to walk in joy.

We can certainly agree that this world has presented its fair share of challenges over the past two years and caused many to lose their joy….

Joining me on the show today is bestselling author, Bible teacher and co-host of the More than Small Talk podcast, Suzanne Eller

Suzie believes that joy is more than a feeling.

It’s a knowing.

In her new book, JoyKeeper, Suzie shares six biblical truths that will transform our understanding of joy.

In today’s conversation Suzie and I are going to take on the hard questions surrounding the idea of redefining joy as we ask questions like:

• What does it look like to live a life marked by joy?
• How can we hold fast to joy when our feelings lead in the complete opposite direction?
• How can we as Christian Parents be a safe place for our kids to feel big feelings, ask the hard questions and wrestle with their own faith?

Whether you are driving, doing laundry or taking some much needed time for exercise or rest, I pray you will attune your heart to the incredible wisdom you are about to hear - today’s episode delivers what I like to call some serious holy gut punches!

 

Connect with Suzie on Facebook, Instagram and her website 

 

To hear more from Suzie, tune in for the More Than Small Talk podcast

 

For more on today’s topic, grab a copy of Suzie’s book: Joykeeper - 6 Things That Change Everything You Thought You Knew About Joy

 

Connect with Somer on Facebook and Instagram

 

Grab your ticket for the Parent With Purpose Digital Event HERE!

 

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FAVORITE TAKEAWAYS:

Your feelings matter to God but joy is more than a feeling, it’s a knowing.

It’s knowing where to turn. It’s knowing who you are. It’s knowing whose you are. It’s knowing God’s plan for you hasn’t gone away.

 

God created our kids to feel and He cares about how they feel.

 

Why don’t we introduce our kids to the Creator who created them with these big feelings who cares about their big feelings and show God as a shelter to them instead of shutting them down.

 

Invite God into the midst of your feelings

 

To be a joykeeper means we are so tied to the Source of our joy that we are confronting joystealers with Truth

 

3 main joystealers:

 

1. It is our job to make sure that those we love never fail, fall or hurt

 

Your child needs sacred space to make mistakes and grow. To find their way to Jesus.

 

1. When you disqualify yourself from taking a seat even when Jesus invites you

If God is the one pulling out the seat saying - “I’ve got you, sis, I’ve got you” - then it’s my privilege to take it not thinking that I’m going to be perfect but thinking that God Himself is going to help me as I take that seat.

 

1. Trying to earn love from a God who already loves you like crazy

 

You are loved by God and there is no other version of this story

 

We don’t give ourselves permission to allow joy and sorrow to waltz together

 

We can say a million words to our kids about faith, but it’s honestly them seeing our own wrestling in it that shows them that it is real. 

 

Wrestling is a very sacred part of faith.

 

We give our children permission to wrestle in their faith and maybe crawl to the Cross rather than run to it.

 

All throughout scripture I see heroes of faith who wrestled and asked the ahrd questions and maybe crawled to the Cross and there they met Jesus one to one and it forever changed their lives.

 

Parents: Let your faith be real and raw in front of your children. You don’t have to be a paragon of virtue. You don’t have to be always right and always strong.

 

Is it inspirational or is it perspirational?

 

Sometimes we speak into something when we haven’t really heard what the issue is

 

Chalkline faith - 

Things I am called to do or things I can do

Things my child is called to do or can do

Things only God can do

 

When we know what is our assignment and what is not, that gives us the freedom to do what only we can do…

 

We have such a desire to make sure our children are ok -  and that’s good - but is that your assignment?

 

Many times, we are just climbing into everybody’s chalkline

 

Consider: what is your child’s assignment?

 

How can parents be a safe space for their kids to wrestle and ask questions:

 

Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know” to your kids

Truly listen to what they have to say without making it about you

Encourage them as they find answers

 

There is a path to Jesus that has to be carved on our children’s own behalf

 

Sit with your child in their sorrow - let them know that God does hear our prayers and cares about how we feel

 

We set our kids up for such a hard place when we don’t allow them to ask the hard questions

 

“Choose joy” adds burden in the midst of the hard places

 

Choose the Source of your joy in the midst of hard places

 

Joy is intentionally walking into the goodness of God right where we are

 

My calling is to listen for the voice of God daily and say “yes” over and over again

 

“I’m going to give you My joy and no one can take it from you” - John 15:11

 

Acts 2 and 4 - community of believers whose focus was the Source of their joy and people looked on with joy

 

There is a world watching. Our babies are watching. What comes out of our mouth, what we put on social media, how we interact with strangers, how we treat others who are different from us and they are asking themselves: is that something I want?

 

Rest means we are synched in rhythm with God’s heart and thoughts over our life

 

Embrace and receive the rest God offers you

 

Rest in the love that God has for you

 

Conviction leads us to God’s best for us

Condemnation and shame lead us away from God

 

The enemy is hitting hardest in community and unity

 

Surround yourself with healthy community and be healthy community for others

 

It’s really important right now how we reflect Jesus