Choose Joy

Anna Goetz contrasts happiness, which depends on circumstances, with Christian joy, which comes from knowing God is near. Walking through Philippians 4, she shows we can rejoice always, bring anxiety to God, and think on what is true. She shares the story of Janeth Richardson, whose life overflowed with the joy of Jesus. One thing to remember: because God is near, we can choose joy.

Anna Goetz opens by noticing how much of what she calls joy around sports is really just happiness tied to circumstances, and she looks at how happiness is temporary and outside-driven while joy runs deeper. She turns to Philippians, where Paul, writing from prison, tells believers to rejoice in the Lord always, not just when life looks good. Because God is near, we can bring our anxiety to him instead of carrying it alone, and his peace guards our hearts. Anna tells the story of Janeth Richardson, a woman whose life exuded the joy of Jesus even through a cancer diagnosis, and asks what people will remember about how we lived. She then looks at Philippians 4:8, thinking about what is true rather than what we're anxious about, and names comparison, especially on social media, as a thief of joy. Paul's letter ends by telling believers to put into practice what they've learned, and Hebrews reminds us to imitate the faith of those who've gone before because Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Anna closes with her choir's 'choose joy' theme and the three weekly questions her student ministry asks: joy, junk, and Jesus.

1. Anna described happiness as tied to circumstances and joy as something deeper that comes from within, from a sense of purpose. Where do you see that difference in your own life this week? 2. Paul writes 'rejoice in the Lord always,' not just when things are going well. What makes it hard for you to rejoice always? 3. Anna said 'comparison is the thief of joy' and talked about scrolling social media after a great day. When has comparison taken joy away from something good in your life? 4. Anna remembered Janeth Richardson, whose life exuded the joy of Jesus even during a cancer diagnosis, and said she wants to be remembered the same way. What do you want people to remember about how you lived? 5. Anna's student ministry asks three questions each week: joy, junk, and Jesus. What would your answers be for this past week?

Comparison is the thief of joy. Anna Goetz reminds us that scrolling can steal joy from an already good day, pay attention to what's already true and good. Full message on YouTube. #ChooseJoy #Joy #Philippians

What if joy is something we leave behind? Anna shares how a woman named Janeth exuded the joy of Jesus even through a cancer diagnosis. Full message on YouTube. #ChooseJoy #Faith #Joy

Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, rejoice. Anna unpacks Philippians 4 and why joy is tied to knowing God is near. Full message on YouTube. #ChooseJoy #Philippians #Joy

Comparison is the thief of joy. Stop scrolling, start noticing the good. Full message on YouTube.

What if joy is something we leave behind? Janeth's life still echoes it. Full message on YouTube.

Rejoice always, even when it's hard? Yes. Full message on YouTube.

Comparison steals joy. Stop scrolling, start seeing the good. Full message on YouTube.

What if joy is something you leave behind? Full message on YouTube.

Rejoice always, even when it's hard. Full message on YouTube.

Happiness or Joy? Anna talked about how it's easy to feel excited about sports or a great week, but wondered whether that feeling is actually joy. Happiness, she said, is often a temporary feeling caused by outside events or achievements, while joy is a deeper emotion that comes from within, tied to a sense of purpose, or even the ability to affirm the goodness of life in the midst of sorrow. Happiness happens when something good happens to us. But joy says that even when things aren't good, God is good and God is near, and because of that we can have joy. Reflect: What is the difference between something that made you happy this week and something that gave you real joy?

Rejoice Always Philippians 4 Paul wrote to the church in Philippi while imprisoned for preaching the gospel, telling believers to hold on to joy and find unity in the midst of everything they were walking through. He wrote, rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, rejoice. Anna pointed out that it says rejoice always, not just when things are going well or when life looks the way we want it to. She admitted that's not easy, she'd rather complain or be frustrated. But Paul connects joy to the Lord, to what God has done in our lives and the lives of others. That's why we rejoice. Reflect: What is one thing God has done that you can rejoice in today, even if today doesn't feel easy?

God Is Near Philippians 4 After telling us to rejoice, Paul says let your gentleness be evident to all because the Lord is near. Anna said God isn't far off, he's close, paying attention to our lives, and because God is near we can rejoice always. Paul then says not to be anxious about anything, but in every situation to bring our requests to God, and the peace of God that transcends understanding will guard our hearts and minds. This doesn't mean we'll never worry, Anna said, but when anxiety comes we don't have to hold it alone, because God is near and wants to be with us in the midst of it. Reflect: What is something you're anxious about that you can bring to God this week instead of carrying alone?

Think on These Things Paul tells us whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. Anna said what we think matters to who we are, and she admitted she's an over-over-thinker who has learned to bring her thoughts back to what is actually true rather than what worry suggests. She also talked about how comparison is the thief of joy, how scrolling social media and comparing our life to someone else's highlight reel can steal joy from a genuinely good day. Comparison doesn't make our life worse, it just makes us stop paying attention to the good that's already in front of us. Reflect: Where have you noticed comparison stealing your attention from something good that's already true in your life?

Choose Joy Hebrews Hebrews tells us to remember our leaders, consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith, because Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Anna remembered a woman named Janeth Richardson whose life exuded the joy of Jesus even through a cancer diagnosis, and said she wants to be remembered the same way. Her choir's summer concert theme was choose joy, a phrase they repeated to each other in rehearsals. Anna said the challenge is to look for joy, name the junky things, and look for Jesus, because our source of joy is Jesus, not something we create ourselves. Reflect: What would it look like this week to choose joy and look for where Jesus is at work?

0:00 Welcome and Intro 2:50 Happiness vs Joy 5:38 Rejoice in the Lord 7:52 Do Not Be Anxious 11:46 Janeth's Story 15:17 Think on These Things 17:06 Comparison Steals Joy 21:47 Choose Joy Concert 24:49 Joy, Junk, and Jesus