By Kelly Shaw
Amazon Best-Selling Author
Let’s Talk About Joy (No, Not the Fake Kind)
You know that moment when you take the first sip of your morning coffee, hear your favorite song on the radio, or find an extra fry at the bottom of the bag? That little rush of happiness?
Now, imagine feeling that, but deeper, stronger, and not just for a moment—but as a way of life.
That’s joy.
Not to be confused with happiness, which is often tied to what’s happening around us (traffic jams = no happiness), joy is something different. It’s an internal sense of contentment, even when life isn’t perfect. And believe it or not, one of the best places to tap into that kind of joy is—yep, you guessed it—church.
Now, before you roll your eyes and say, “I’m not really the church type”, hear me out. You don’t have to be religious to experience the kind of joy that a good church community can offer.
Where Joy Comes From (Hint: It’s Not Just Good Vibes)
A lot of people spend their lives chasing happiness—bigger paychecks, fancier vacations, more Instagram likes. But happiness is a moving target. What makes you happy today might not tomorrow (remember when you thought neon-colored Crocs were cool?).
Joy, on the other hand, is different. It’s not about having everything go right—it’s about finding peace, gratitude, and laughter even when things go wrong.
Church offers a few things that help build real, lasting joy:
1. A Shift in Perspective
When life gets tough, it’s easy to focus on everything going wrong. Church helps people zoom out and see the bigger picture. Maybe that bad day isn’t the end of the world. Maybe there’s something to be grateful for even in the chaos.
2. A Community That Lifts You Up
Let’s be real—life can be hard, and trying to handle everything alone? Even harder. Being around people who encourage, support, and laugh with you makes all the difference. (Ever tried telling a funny story to yourself? It’s just not the same.)
3. Finding Meaning in the Small Things
One of the greatest secrets to joy? Gratitude. Church teaches people to appreciate what they have instead of always chasing what’s next. And when you start seeing everyday moments as blessings, joy naturally follows.
4. Something Bigger Than Yourself
Church reminds us that life isn’t just about us. When people focus on serving, loving, and giving to others, they find a deeper sense of fulfillment. (Science even backs this up—helping others releases dopamine, aka the “feel-good” chemical.)
The Fruit of the Spirit: Joy That Lasts
One of the foundational teachings in many churches is something called the Fruit of the Spirit—qualities like love, patience, kindness, and, you guessed it, joy.
The idea is that joy isn’t something we find in material things—it’s something that grows inside us when we focus on the right things.
And no, this doesn’t mean pretending life is perfect all the time (because it’s not). It just means learning to find joy in the middle of whatever life throws your way.
A Challenge for You
If you’ve been feeling like joy is a little hard to come by these days, here’s a thought: try visiting a church this week.
Not because you have to. Not because someone is making you. But just to see if it helps shift your perspective.
Worst-case scenario? You spend an hour in a welcoming space and maybe even hear some good music.
Best-case scenario? You walk away with a little more joy than you had before.
Because joy isn’t just for people who have their lives all figured out (spoiler alert: no one does). It’s for anyone who’s willing to look for it. And sometimes, church is a great place to start. #FindYourPeace #SlowDown #LessStressMoreLife #FaithOverFear #PeaceInTheChaos #southhillschurch #ccv #christchurchofthevalley