Daily Joy

Happy Friday, Friends! We made it through the week! Can we just take a moment to celebrate that? Whatever the week brought your way, you’re still here. You’re standing on the other side of hard, and that’s worth pausing for. There were moments this week when it felt like things were too much but look at God! He’s been carrying us the whole time. And now, as we step into the weekend, it’s a chance to let the weight of the week go and lean fully into His joy. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that God doesn’t just carry us through—He gives us joy in the process. That kind of joy isn’t about everything being perfect. It’s about knowing that even in the chaos, God is with you. It’s the kind of joy that makes you smile in the middle of the storm and laugh when you thought you’d be crying. So today, let’s take a moment to breathe, smile, and reflect on how good God has been. Think about the ways He’s carried you this week—the little victories, the answered prayers, the strength to keep...

Happy Friday Jr.! This week has been a journey, hasn’t it? Between Sunday’s reminder that God is still God and the past three days of diving into The Good in the Hard, I don’t know about you, but my spirit feels a little lighter. The truth we’ve been leaning into—that God uses even the hardest seasons for His glory—has been both challenging and encouraging for me. I’ve been reflecting on my own moments of waiting and pain, asking myself, What has God been teaching me through it all? For me, it’s been a reminder to let go of control and trust His timing. Waiting is never easy, and pain doesn’t feel good while you’re in it, but I’m learning that God’s goodness shines even brighter in the midst of it. What about you? Has anything from this week’s devotional resonated with you? Maybe it’s a scripture, a story, or even a song that has stayed with you. Maybe it’s caused you to see your own struggles in a new light. Take a moment today to pause and reflect on these questions: What has God b...

  Day 3: The Good in the Hard Scripture: "But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance."– Genesis 45:7 Devotional: I’ll never forget being bullied in school. There were always kids who had something to say, but one girl stood out above the rest. She didn’t miss a day—every single day, she found a way to pick at me. My clothes. My hair. My smile. She made it her mission to make me feel small. Years later, I received a message from her on social media. And guess what? She wasn’t messaging me to apologize. She needed my help. I wish I could tell you I immediately felt compassion, but I didn’t. I struggled. Everything in me wanted to leave her on read or type something petty. But as I sat with it, I realized something: everything she did to hurt me had actually propelled me toward my purpose. It reminds me of Joseph’s story. Can you imagine the moment he saw his brothers again? The same brothers who betrayed him...

  Day 2: Trusting in the Waiting Scripture: “So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. They told him, ‘Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.’ Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.” – Genesis 45:25-26 Devotional: Waiting is hard. I’m not just talking about standing in line at the grocery store or sitting in traffic. I’m talking about the soul-deep waiting—the kind where you’re holding your breath, praying for a breakthrough, and feeling like you’re stuck in the in-between, wondering if God has forgotten about you. If I’m real with you, patience isn’t my strong suit. If I see a way to make something happen, my first instinct is to take control. But here’s what I’ve learned: sometimes the best results come not from what I can do, but from what God is working out behind the scenes while I wait. Joseph knew all about waiting. After enduring years of betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment, he finally stepped into his purpose...

Day 1: God’s Purpose in the Pain   Devotional: Pain has a way of telling lies. It whispers that the chapter you’re in is the whole story, that God has left you alone in the middle of your heartbreak with no way out. When life feels heavy—when relationships fail, when opportunities vanish, or when everything seems to fall apart—it’s easy to wonder if God is even paying attention. Can I be honest? When I was younger, I couldn’t understand why the seasoned saints kept saying, “There’s purpose in your pain.” I’d hear them testify, “God turned it around,” and sit there thinking, How? How can something that hurts so much ever work for my good? Then I came across Joseph. His life was full of moments that looked like loss after loss. Betrayed by his own brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and thrown into prison—Joseph had every reason to believe his story was over. But here’s the part that always grabs me: even in his hardest seasons, God was writing a bigger story. Every tear Jo...

This week felt heavy, didn’t it? Between transitions in our personal lives and the never-ending cycle of global news, it’s easy to feel like we’re drowning in uncertainty. We see headlines that shake us, decisions that divide us, and moments that leave us questioning where God is in all of this. There were moments this week when I felt overwhelmed. Trying to balance everything while still holding space for joy, peace, and purpose can feel like a losing battle. There were mornings when I woke up with hope, but by midday, I was fighting discouragement because of something I saw on the news or something happening in my own life. Maybe you’ve felt that too—the weight of it all threatening to steal your peace. But as I sat with all of this, one truth kept coming back to me: God is still God. It was a simple yet powerful reminder. It didn’t change the news I heard or the challenges I faced, but it shifted my perspective. The same God who spoke light into darkness, parted seas, and brought d...

  The Promise is Still Alive “So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.’” (Genesis 41:41, NIV) Devotion: You ever look at your life and think, How did I get here? Not in a good way, but in that what happened to the dream? kind of way. You’re staring at a pile of setbacks, delays, and closed doors, wondering if you’ll ever see what God promised. Joseph knew that feeling. He sat in the pit, worked as a slave, and waited in prison. None of it looked like the dream God gave him. I can imagine him wondering, Did I hear God wrong? Is this dream even real? But here’s the thing about God—He doesn’t just fulfill promises. He exceeds them. When the time came, Joseph wasn’t just freed from prison; he was elevated to a position that changed the course of history. God used every detour to prepare Joseph for a destiny he couldn’t have imagined. I remember my own season of exhaustion—physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained. I was doing everyth...

  When People Forget You “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.” (Genesis 40:23, NIV) Have you ever done something for someone, poured your heart into helping them, only to have them act like you never existed? Maybe you gave them your time, your resources, your insider knowledge, thinking, Surely, when I need them, they’ll show up for me. But when your moment came? Crickets. Joseph knew that feeling. He helped the cupbearer by interpreting his dream—a moment that should have changed Joseph’s situation. Joseph asked for one thing in return: “Don’t forget me when you’re restored.” But the cupbearer did forget, leaving Joseph in prison for two more years. Can you imagine how painful that must have been? I remember a time when I experienced something similar. I gave someone all my best advice and tools to succeed. I showed up for them every step of the way, thinking they’d have my back when I needed it. But when the tables turned, they were nowhere t...

  Faith in the Waiting Room “But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him…” (Genesis 39:20-21, NIV) The in-between seasons—those moments when you’re waiting on God to move—are some of the hardest. Joseph went from the pit to slavery to prison, none of which looked like the dreams God gave him. And yet, even in prison, God was with him. I had my own “in-between” season not long ago. I was working hard, praying harder, and trusting God for something I believed was just around the corner. But nothing seemed to happen. It felt like the more I tried to push forward, the more I hit a wall. I started questioning everything—did I hear God wrong? Did I miss my moment? But as I stayed in that season, God began to work on me. He wasn’t moving the way I expected Him to; He was moving in me. When that season ended, I looked back and realized that God had been preparing me all along. He was building my character, teaching me to be patient, and showing me that His timing is al...

The Pit Feels Like the End “They took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.” (Genesis 37:24, NIV) Pits are never comfortable. They’re lonely, dark, and isolating. Joseph’s brothers didn’t just throw him into a pit—they stripped him of the coat that represented his father’s love and favor. He was abandoned, betrayed, and left for dead. I remember a low point in my life when I felt like I had nothing left to give. I had pushed everyone who cared about me away because I was drowning in my own self-pity and doubt. I didn’t believe I had anything to offer the world. I thought the dream God had placed in me was just that—a dream, nothing more. I convinced myself that God had forgotten me, and I sat in that darkness, unable to see a way out. But what I couldn’t see in that moment was that God was still working. Even when it felt like I was sinking, He was preparing me, stripping away the lies I had believed about myself, and reminding me that I ...

  The Dream Feels Too Big “Here comes the dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns…” (Genesis 37:19-20, NIV) When I was a little girl, dreaming came naturally. I could see myself on stage, speaking into people’s lives and living out the purpose I just knew God had for me. I didn’t question it. I believed in it with the confidence only a child could have. But as I got older, life started chipping away at that boldness. Rejection, doubt, and insecurities crept in, and I started questioning if my dreams were even valid. Joseph’s story resonates deeply. God gave him big dreams—dreams of influence and purpose—but instead of being celebrated, he was mocked, betrayed, and thrown into a pit. His brothers couldn’t see what God saw in him, and their jealousy turned into hate. I’ll never forget the first time I told someone I wanted to publish a children’s book. Their reaction said it all—disbelief, followed by a smirk. They didn’...

When I was a little girl, dreaming wasn’t just something I did—it was who I was. I didn’t just dream; I lived in those dreams. I saw myself doing big things, leaving an impact on the world, and using my voice to inspire people. My Adventure Bible—anybody else remember those?—was my pulpit. I’d write messages and sermons like I was running a full-on church service. I’d pick a scripture, jot down my thoughts, and picture myself standing in front of crowds, sharing what was on my heart. My imagination knew no limits, and my confidence? Unshakable.  But then life happened. As the teenage years rolled in, followed by adulthood, that dreamer in me got quiet. Life started throwing its punches. Bullying left me doubting my worth. Family struggles shook my foundation. And insecurity? It didn’t just knock—I opened the door, and it moved right in. The girl who once dreamed of changing the world started questioning if she could even change her circumstances. I felt like Joseph. Joseph’s story...