Happiness fades when life gets hard. But joy? Joy thrives in the middle of the struggle. God uses hardship not to harm us, but to grow us, mature us, and shape us into people who reflect His joy.
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
In Week 2 of Live for More, Pastor Linn Winters shows us that joy isn’t the absence of struggle — it’s God’s presence in it. From trials to prison cells to daily humility, joy is found when we put Jesus first, others second, and ourselves last.
KEY POINTS:
James 1:2–4 — Joy is possible in trials because God is preparing and maturing us.
Nehemiah 8:10 — The joy of the Lord is our strength.
Acts 16:26–34 — Even in prison, Paul and Silas sang with joy, and their faith brought others to salvation.
Philippians 2:3–5 — True JOY comes when we put Jesus first, others second, self third.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Struggles are not wasted — they are God’s refining hand.
Joy is deeper than happiness; it’s rooted in obedience and God’s smile.
Every trial is an opportunity to make your Heavenly Father proud.
Don’t let struggles steal your joy. Discover how to live for more by finding joy in every circumstance.