WALKING JOY
The full video of this teaching is available at the bottom of this post and this link.
THEY NEVER SAW JESUS
Imagine you are one of the first-century Christians who never met Jesus in person. You never heard His voice, never ate with Him, never watched Him calm a storm with His words. But today, you are packed shoulder to shoulder in a dimly lit room, listening. Because someone—someone who walked with Him—has sent a letter. A man who saw Him up close, knew the weight of His words, the fire in His eyes, the way He healed with a touch.
And now, Peter’s words are being read aloud.
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9
Think about that. They loved Him even though they had never seen Him. And that is what is so remarkable. Their love for Jesus was not built on firsthand experience like Peter’s. They had heard the stories, yes, but more than that, they had experienced Jesus’ work in their lives. And yet Peter was telling them their love was just as real. Cool side note: He was echoing what he had heard Jesus say to Thomas eight days after the resurrection: “Blessed are those who believe without seeing me” (John 20:29).
Not only did they love and trust Him without seeing Him, but Peter says they rejoiced—and not just with a quiet, inner contentment. This was more, a glorious, inexpressible joy.
That is the part we need to explore.
Instead of diving into Greek word studies, watch this short video with me of soldiers returning home after deployment. I think we all love these videos! The moment they’re seen—eyes widen, hearts race, everything else fades. And then, the explosion of joy.
You thought I was going to show their families, didn’t you? Nope! Their dogs get closer to inexpressible joy than the humans do!
Peter explains that these believers, hiding from persecution, were Walking Joy—infused with God’s presence.
NOTE: Next week, we will see what joy looks like when life punches you in the gut and does not let you catch your breath." But today? Let’s talk about joy in the normal, the weekly routine. Because this is where most of life happens.
WALKING JOY IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Most of life is not spent in crisis. It is lived in the in-between—the routines, the schedules, the ordinary rhythms of work, school, errands, and conversations. And this is where Walking Joy matters most. Because if joy is absolute, it is not just for the big moments—it is for the everyday ones. The daily grind is full of chances to reflect God’s joy in ways that stand out.
To be Walking Joy means dragging yourself out of bed for work, pouring that first cup of coffee, and stepping into another long day—but with a posture that says, I am here for more than just getting through this. It is clocking in, logging on, sitting in another class, sending another email, making another sale, studying for another exam—not because you have to, but because this is part of something bigger. Because everything you do, every conversation, every moment, is charged with the reality that you belong to Christ, and that changes how you move through this world.
It means doing the everyday things—the grocery runs, the meetings, the bills, the commute—not with some forced, plastic smile, but with a quiet, steady joy that is not dictated by the calendar or the bank account. It is laughing at a joke in the breakroom instead of complaining about the workload. It is being fully present at the dinner table, not lost in the next thing on your list. It is finding joy on a regular Tuesday, not waiting for the weekend, the vacation, the “better season” of life.
And people notice.
Because this world runs on stress. Anxiety. Exhaustion. Surviving until Friday. People are numb, running on autopilot, doing what needs to be done and nothing more. So when they see someone walking through the same grind—the same work, the same responsibilities—but with joy? That makes them pause. That makes them ask, What is different about you?
And that is the point.
Walking Joy is not about ignoring the grind. It is about carrying something deeper into it. It is about knowing that everything—every spreadsheet, every shift, every carpool run, every lecture, every late-night study session, every hard-earned paycheck—is part of a much bigger story. That salvation is unfolding. That eternity is real. That you are already living in the light of something greater.
CHALLENGE FOR THIS WEEK
So, what do you do when you realize you are just going through the motions? When the weight of routine has settled in, and you feel as lifeless as the Monday morning commute? Here are four ways to snap out of it and remind yourself that you are Walking Joy!
Flip the Script on the Mundane. Instead of I have to—start saying I get to. I get to go to work today. I get to study. I get to have another meal with my family. The routine is not the enemy. Your perspective is.
Intentionally Bring Joy to Someone Else. Say something encouraging to a classmate. Text a friend just to check-in. Make someone laugh. Joy is contagious—and sometimes, the fastest way to remind yourself of it is to give it away.
Interrupt the Routine with Worship. Play worship music in the car. Read a psalm before your next task. Pray as you go about your day. Do something that re-centers your focus on Christ—not just on the checklist of things you need to do.
Ask Yourself: What Story Am I Telling? Every day, you show the world something about Christ—whether you realize it or not. Are you walking through life like everyone else, or are you Walking Joy? When people see you in the middle of your routine, do they see stress and exhaustion or peace and joy? Because one of those makes people ask, What is different about you?
Joy is not about waiting for life to feel exciting. It is about carrying something deeper into the life you already have. So carry it well. Again, your daily routine is full of chances to reflect God’s joy in ways that stand out and attract people to life in Christ. In every step you take this week, you are Walking Joy!
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