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The plans are set, the food is packed, the kids are excited. The blanket, the kite, the frisbee, everything is ready to go. And then you hear thunder. The kids run to the window and it's raining. You look outside and think, well, there goes our day. In that moment, it would be easy to feel like the whole day is ruined. But what if the plan can change without taking your joy with it? Welcome to God Says So, the scripture-rooted podcast created to help Christian moms just like you grow in God's Word, strengthen your faith, live by what God says, and pass his truth on to the children you love. So the next generation grows up rooted in Scripture. Hi, I'm Donna, and I hope that you'll feel right at home here. Together, we'll find encouragement and joy in what God says. You'll leave with one practical way to bring his truth into your everyday family life. So come join me. I can't wait to share today's message with you. And today we're talking about joy. Philippians 4 4 says, Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again, rejoice. Now I want you to notice these three words that Paul uses to tell us where our joy is found. In the Lord. That's where our joy is found, in the Lord. And here's what makes those words even more meaningful. Paul wrote Philippians while he was imprisoned. So when he says rejoice, he isn't sitting on a sunny beach somewhere and everything is going exactly the way he planned. No, no, no, no. His circumstances certainly weren't giving him much reason to rejoice. His circumstances weren't the source of his joy. His joy was in the Lord. And that matters for you and for me. Because joy doesn't mean that you never feel disappointed when something you were looking forward to doesn't happen. It doesn't mean pretending you don't care. And it definitely doesn't mean putting on a happy face when you're not happy. You can be disappointed and still have joy. It means your circumstances do not have to determine whether or not you can still experience joy. Okay, so let's go back to that rainy afternoon. Now maybe your kids were talking about this picnic all morning long. They wanted to fly the kite and swing on the swings. And you had everything packed up. You had everybody ready. And now you're all standing there, looking out the window as the rain is just pouring down. Your kids are disappointed. So you might say to them, I know mommy is disappointed too. I was really looking forward to our picnic at the park. So there's nothing wrong with saying that. But then comes your next thought, and you're thinking, Well, now the whole day is ruined. And that thought can take you somewhere pretty quickly, right? Okay, so maybe your kids are now starting to whine and cry and because they can't go outside and they wanted to play at the park. And suddenly you're not just disappointed about the picnic anymore. Your whole attitude has changed. Now, this is one of those ordinary moments when the Holy Spirit can help you notice what's happening inside of you. Is the whole day ruined? I mean, ultimately, you wanted to spend time together. So you can say to your children, I know we all feel disappointed, but God is good. He is still with us, and there is still something good right here. So let's shift the plan. You move the coffee table over. Then you ask the kids to help you spread out the picnic blanket right there on the living room floor. You ask one of your kids to bring out the sandwiches, and you have the picnic anyway. No, you cannot fly the kite in the house, and I definitely wouldn't recommend throwing the frisbee. But you can play a game or two. You can put on Christian music and dance, laugh, enjoy being together. The rain changed the plan, but it didn't take away everything good about the day. And I think this is where joy becomes very real in our everyday lives. Now, as you follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit is working in you. So he can help you recognize when a disappointing moment is starting to affect your thoughts, your attitude, and the way you're responding to everyone around you. And he can help you turn your attention back to him. And your children get to see that. Your children don't need to see a mom who never gets upset or disappointed. They get to see a mom who can say, Yeah, I'm disappointed. And then they get to see what happens next. They get to watch you turn to the Lord. They get to see that a changed plan does not have to control the rest of the day. And little by little, through these ordinary moments, you're showing them what following Jesus looks like. Okay, so here's one practical step you can take today. So the next time something doesn't go the way you expect it, before you decide the whole thing is just ruined, pause for a moment and notice where your thoughts are going. Then simply ask, Lord, what is good here? Now you may still be disappointed and the situation may not change, but instead of letting that disappointment take over the moment, ask the Holy Spirit to help you see what God still is giving you in that situation. And then choose to enjoy what you can. Okay, real quick before we pray, if you want a simple way to begin bringing more of God's word into your everyday family life, I have a free guide for you called Seven Scriptures to Pray Over the Children You Love. And you can download it now using the link in the show notes. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for my joy, and thank you that it does not have to depend on everything going the way that I planned. Thank you that true joy is found in you. Help me notice when disappointment begins to affect my thoughts, my attitude, and the way I respond to the people around me. Holy Spirit, help me turn my attention back to you and recognize the good that is still in front of me. Grow your joy in me as I follow Jesus and help my children see through the way I live that even when our plans change, we can still trust you and enjoy the gifts you have given us. In Jesus' mighty name, amen. Okay, so come back on Tuesday for the next episode as we move on to peace. Now, if you haven't already, please follow the God Says So podcast so you never miss an episode. Oh, wait, one more thing. If the Holy Spirit puts someone on your heart while you were listening to this episode, would you please share this podcast with them? And together, we can reach more families, all for God's glory. Until next time, stay rooted in Scripture. Live by what God says, and pass it on.