Upgrade Our Joy pt. 2

Hello Maple Avenue Ministries Family,

What do we lean on when life gets hard?   This week we continued “Upgrading Our Joy pt. 2” with an invitation to find our refuge in God rather than in our circumstances. Drawing from Nehemiah 8:8–10, he reminded us: “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Whether you joined us or are catching up now, here are three truths to carry into this week:

• Joy makes room for honest grief. God does not ask us to pretend we are fine. We can acknowledge pain without allowing it to become the place we live. Pastor Winfred Burns II explained strength as a refuge or fortress: God's joy offers protection without closing us off from love, healing, and community.

• Lasting joy grows through closeness with God. Happiness depends on circumstances, but joy rests in knowing God is present through them. Money, achievements, relationships, and even religious activity cannot replace an intimate relationship with God. As Psalm 16:11 reminds us, fullness of joy is found in God's presence—not in a life without difficulty.

• Joy is meant to be shared. In Nehemiah 8:10, the people were instructed to celebrate and send portions to those who had nothing prepared. Our joy should move us toward others, especially those who are hurting, overlooked, or without enough. Welcoming someone as they are and sharing what we have are practical expressions of God's goodness.

This week, consider where you have been seeking refuge. Bring one difficult thing honestly to God in prayer, and make room to listen through Scripture. Then extend that refuge to someone else: share a meal, check on a grieving friend, or offer help without expecting anything in return. We do not have to deny what hurts to live from joy—we can trust God's presence to sustain us as we walk through it together.

In Christ's love,

Pastor Winfred