Monthly Archives: March 2025

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

Find Joy in Anything!

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Troubles come and go. Well, it seems that they mostly come these days. And then there’s work … and chores. Plenty of them! During all that, peace of mind and cheerfulness can be ever elusive. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Things that can make us unhappy don’t have to drag us down. Believe it or not, we can be cheerful amidst them. Even mundane tasks like doing dishes, mowing the lawn, or housework can be done cheerfully and for God’s glory through pure joy. What is ‘joy,’ and how is that possible?

Joy is a cheerfulness that comes from within. It manifests as calm delight or great gladness. Unlike happiness, which depends on external forces, joy’s cheerfulness is generated deep within our souls. Its power enables us to rejoice amidst trouble, as we see in James 1:2 (“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials”). The apostle echoes a similar sentiment in 2 Corinthians 7:4. Rejoicing during hardships might seem impossible, but God’s Spirit enables this ability.

He gives His Spirit to everyone who devotes to Him by ‘making Jesus Lord’ (Romans 10:8-10). That Spirit comforts us. Heals us. Illuminates so we see truth and life. He also produces joy when we walk with Him, as seen in Galatians 5:22 (“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control …”). When we allow the Spirit to change and guide us, anything good is possible—even being of good cheer in the middle of trouble or tedious chores. Catherine of Siena, a 14th-century theologian, taught much about this.

She stressed that we could (and should) find joy in everyday tasks, thinking of them as acts of worshipful service. To her, daily duties should be a form of devotion; “even the most mundane tasks are opportunities to express love for God.” Joy can be found even in the smallest or most mundane task, “considering nothing too little when done for God.” How can we do this practically?

First, remember that God gave you life; every breath and act belongs to Him. Therefore, we can imagine that everything we do is for Him in some way. Second, the transforming power of God’s Spirit changes how we look at chores or hardship—our minds are renewed when we are in harmony with Him. Finally, turn boring stuff into challenges; congratulate yourself for accomplishing them or persevering through trials and trouble.

Summary. You can be joyful—of good cheer—during trouble or while doing boring tasks through the mind-transforming Spirit of God and approaching those situations differently. So, where will we go next? Let’s explore “Jesus in the Underworld” as I correct faulty thinking and traditions about what Jesus did when He was in the earth for three days before His resurrection. Until then, walk by God’s Spirit and find joy in anything, even the mundane!

God’s blessings and peace, Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.

discipleship, Finding Answers to Stuff Churches Don't Discuss, Uncategorized

What’s Your Story?

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Mention the need to evangelize their faith, and Christians tend to freak out. They imagine having to go door to door handing out pamphlets and telling people about a Jesus they don’t often know how to verbalize. Evangelism isn’t meant to be this way. Instead, we’re to organically present the Kingdom of God through Holy Spirit-fueled actions and stories. Here are a couple of examples:

 [Jesus] said to her, “‘Go, call your husband and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.” The woman said to [Jesus], “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.” … “So the woman … went into the city and said to the men, Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done …” (John 4:16-19; 4:28-29)

And a leper came to Jesus, … saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. … [and he] went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere. (Mark 1:40-45)

Your experiences are your evangelism; no one can refute what God has done for you and through you. So, use what you know to introduce the Kingdom to those who need to meet Him. As you walk by the Spirit God has given you, verbalize your faith meaningfully. In other words, tell about your experiences and the Kingdom in speech and actions the unchurched will understand; meet them where they are. Don’t use ‘Christianese’ or words even most Christians don’t understand, like ‘propitiation’ or ‘sanctification.’ Your defense for your faith—your ‘elevator pitch,’ doesn’t even have to mention a God or Christ at first, which the hearer likely won’t know or understand.

Here’s a brief example: “I was a drunk. I’d lost everything. But in my darkest moment, I learned about the creator of everything, including you and me, who loves us so much and wants us to have a relationship with Him and be healed. He has changed my life, and, as you see, I’m a new person. You can be, too! Let me tell you how …”

Summary. God has worked with you and through you. Just act accordingly and talk about those things. Use what you know to introduce God to those who need Him. Next time, let’s learn how to find joy in anything. Meanwhile, share your Kingdom experiences—first by action, then by word if necessary.

God’s blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.