Parenting on Pointਨਮੂਨਾ

Embracing the Joy of the Lord

Joy is a deep and abiding sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing God and experiencing His presence. It’s not dependent on circumstances but is rooted in our relationship with Christ. Teaching children to embrace the joy of the Lord helps them find strength and peace in all situations. Begin by helping your children understand what true joy is. Explain that joy is different from happiness, which depends on circumstances. Joy comes from knowing God and trusting in His love and care for us. Happiness is great, but it’s not constant. Joy, however, can be constant.

Model joy in your own life. Let your children see you choosing joy even in difficult situations. Share with them how you find joy in God’s promises, in worship, and in serving others. Encourage your children to find joy in God’s creation. Go on nature walks, marvel at a beautiful sunset, or simply enjoy the little moments of life together. Teach them that joy is found in appreciating God’s gifts all around us.

One particular Sunday stands out in my memory for learning to embrace joy despite feeling overwhelmed with a never-ending to-do list at church and home. As I (Mark) prepared to preach that morning, I felt far from joyful. I’d stayed up the night before working on the sermon and was running on just a few hours of sleep. I felt more anxious than excited about the service ahead, and I could feel the weight of the day pressing down on me. I began to pray, asking God for strength, but couldn’t shake a feeling of heaviness. Suddenly, I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit, seeming to say, “You’re doing everything for Me, but you’re not doing it with joy.” The realization hit me hard. In an effort to keep up with the demands of life and ministry, I’d been treating my relationship with God like another task to be managed rather than a source of life and joy. I paused and whispered a simple prayer: “Lord, I need your joy. I can’t do this without you.”

About that time, my youngest daughter burst into my study, carrying a crumpled piece of paper. “Daddy!” she exclaimed. “I drew a picture for you!” She proudly handed me her drawing—a colorful scribble of our family, all holding hands with big smiles on our faces, standing under a bright yellow sun. At the top, she’d written in her wobbly handwriting, “I love you, Daddy.” I couldn’t help but smile. I felt the tension in my shoulders begin to ease, realizing that my daughter wasn’t concerned whether I preached the perfect sermon. She just wanted to be near me and share her love. In that moment, God spoke to my heart, “This is what I desire from you, too, Mark, to be close, to enjoy My presence, and to live in My love.”

With renewed perspective, I preached that morning, not with a heavy heart but with a spirit lifted by the joy of the Lord. I opened my sermon with the story of my daughter from that morning, telling the congregation about her simple act of love and how it reminded me of God’s invitation to find joy in every moment, especially in His presence. The mood of the room changed as I shared my personal struggle and how God met me in the midst of it.

Teach your children that joy comes from gratitude. Encourage them to keep a gratitude journal, listing things they are thankful for each day. Help them see that gratitude turns our hearts to God and fills us with joy.

Help your children understand that joy is also a choice. Teach them to focus on God’s goodness, even when things are tough, and to choose joy in every circumstance.

Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of joy that comes from knowing You. Help us to choose joy in every situation and to find strength in Your love. Fill our hearts with gratitude, and help us to share Your joy with everyone around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thanks for studying Parenting on Point with Pastor Mark and Grace Driscoll. For more free and practical resources to lead your family well, visit realfaith.com