From God To Us: Joy Robbers

"Joy to the world!"... right? But it SO hard to have joy sometimes.

What is one of your greatest challenges for living a daily joyous life?


Read Luke 1:26-38.
(Mary had a LOT to fear! She could've let fear rob her joy.)

Worry and fear are the rivals of joy in our heart. When worry wins, joy loses. Do you ever say you trust the Lord, but then think of a second option just in case the Lord does not come through?

What fear is stopping you from experiencing joy?

Worry causes us to waste the blessings of today by keeping us focused on the possible problems of tomorrow. How do your worries hinder you spiritually in your Christian walk?


Read Mathew 1:18-21
(Joseph could've let disappointment and resentment rob his joy.)

Disappointments often steal our joy because they shift our focus from the Lord to ourselves. How can maintaining an eternal perspective help us to deal with our disappointments?

We will never experience true abundant joy if we have seeds of bitterness, unforgiveness, or resentment in our hearts. How does it encourage you to know that the Lord has seen every hurt and offense ever committed against you?


Read Matthew 2:7-10
(The wisemen could've let confusion rob their joy.)

Share an example of when you had great joy even in the midst of uncertainty.

One of the main reasons we lose our joy is because we lose our focus, taking our eyes off the prize of Christ and losing ourselves in the problems of the world. If you were one of the wisemen, would you have stayed focused on pursuing the newborn King for as long as they did (2 years)? Why or why not?

Confusion and lack of clarity are joy stealers. Do you think you need to move forward out of your sense of unclarity? If so, what changes do you need to make in order to just start taking things one step at a time?


Next Steps:

Write down a major fear, resentment, or thing that is confusing you. What is the next step you can take to begin to find joy in the midst of it?

Ask your rGroup friends to pray and help you find joy where you need it most. Ask others how you can pray and help them, too.