Last year, I had the privilege of meeting with an international mentor in the business world.

He’s a believer, and someone with significant influence in large arenas, yet his words carried a simplicity that shook me to my core.

During our conversation, he said something that both triggered me and awakened something deep within me:

"Follow the thing that brings you joy, and you'll be surprised to find God in it."

At first, I felt resistance rise within me, almost like a reflex.

Why? Because of religious thinking I didn’t even realize I had.

Religion often demonizes joy and desire, making people more afraid of getting it wrong than confident in walking with God.

But as he spoke, something deeper inside of me resonated.

Though my mind intially struggled to grasp it, my spirit only reached more and more for it. He spoke from a place of faith, hope, and possibility—not the fear that so often distorts Christian thinking.

Since that day, I’ve asked God to teach me about this—Is it legit? Is it not?

Nearly a year later, I can say with confidence—it’s overwhelmingly true.

Joy and Purpose Are Connected

"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." — Frederick Buechner

What if the things that bring you deep, lasting joy are actually clues to your calling?

Esther’s joy was rescuing her people. David’s joy was the presence of God. Nehemiah’s joy was rebuilding the wall.

Their joy wasn’t random—it was tied to their purpose.

Psalm 37:4 teaches:

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

This verse is often misunderstood—it doesn’t mean God grants every whim, but that as we delight in Him, our desires align with His.

Your God-given joy isn’t separate from His will—it’s the expression of it.

"What if my desires are selfish?"

True joy in God purifies our desires. Selfish pleasure fades, but deep joy is life-giving and sustains you.

"Shouldn’t I just obey, regardless of feelings?

Obedience isn’t joyless duty—it’s alignment with God’s heart. Jesus endured the cross because of joy (Hebrews 12:2).

"Life is about sacrifice, not enjoyment."

The Kingdom isn’t either/or—it’s both. Sacrifice without joy leads to burnout; joy without surrender leads to self-indulgence. True joy strengthens you through sacrifice.

Let’s Be Clear: Joy Doesn’t = No Challenges

Pursuing what brings you the deepest joy will almost certainly involve challenges. But those challenges don’t diminish your joy—they prove it.

"For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross." (Hebrews 12:2)

Reconciling humanity to Himself was Christ’s greatest joy, yet it required enduring the greatest challenge—the cross.

Joy is not the absence of difficulty. It is the strength to press on because the outcome is worth it.

This is the kind of joy that empowers us. It’s not shallow or naive—it’s deeply rooted in purpose and the goodness of God.

My Joy Journey With Jesus

Lately, I’ve found so much joy in simply being a present full-time dad—enjoying my family and sharing God’s goodness in everyday life. It's something I've always desired and lived towards, and in December 2023, being a full-time dad finally became my reality.

It’s not flashy. It’s not what most would call “ministry.” But it’s full, it’s rich, and it feels deeply aligned with what God is doing in me.

And yet, sometimes I wonder—is this spiritual enough?

It’s easy to believe that “real” spiritual work has to look like preaching, leading, or doing something officially labeled as ministry. But that thinking comes from religion, not the Kingdom.

And the incredible part? Simply by embracing the joy of being a full-time dad, I’ve seen how deeply it impacts others.

People have told me how inspiring it is, how healing it’s been for them—because it’s rare to see a family living fully together with a present, engaged father. Some have even re-evaluated their own priorities, realizing there’s a different way to live.

The goodness of God that we reflect as a family is drawing people into His goodness, stirring them to go deeper with Jesus. How amazing is that for society?

At the core, the health of a community is shaped by the health of its families. When families thrive, everything else follows.

What an incredible privilege to know that our joy doesn’t just impact us—it’s transforming the world around us.

The wisdom of God in this continues to blow my mind.

“But shouldn’t I be doing more for God?”

What if enjoying what He’s given you is doing something for God? What if joy itself is a powerful witness?

The Kingdom isn’t about doing more for God—it’s about living fully with Him.

“Aren't we supposed to be led by Holy Spirit, not joy?”

Being led by the Holy Spirit and experiencing joy aren’t opposites—they actually go hand in hand. The Holy Spirit guides us into truth, and one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy (Galatians 5:22).

When we follow the Holy Spirit, He leads us into things that bring us peace and fulfillment, and often, that shows up as joy. Joy isn’t a distraction—it's often Holy Spirit confirming that you're moving in the right direction.

"For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross." (Hebrews 12:2)

“This doesn’t feel like ministry.”

Maybe we’ve misunderstood ministry. What if ministry isn’t a title or a platform, but a way of living that overflows with God’s goodness?

Think of it like a tree. A healthy tree doesn’t struggle to bear fruit; it simply remains planted in good soil. When we abide in Him, our lives naturally produce fruit that blesses others—without striving.

How to Follow the Path of Joy

So, what does it look like to follow the path of joy? Here are a few practical steps:

1. Notice what lights you up — What activities make you feel fully alive? What do you love doing even when no one is watching? God speaks through the desires He’s placed in you.

2. Spend time delighting in God — Psalm 37:4 says He gives us the desires of our hearts as we delight in Him. Seek Him first, and your desires will become clearer.

3. Test it with action — Take a small step toward what brings you joy. Often, clarity comes through movement, not just thought.

4. Pay attention to grace and fruit — Jesus said, “You will recognize them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:16). True joy produces peace, endurance, and impact in your life and others.

5. Embrace the challenges — Don’t mistake difficulty for a sign you’re off-track. The cross was proof that Jesus was exactly where He was meant to be.

The Hunger of the World

What if the answer to people’s deepest hunger isn’t another sermon, but a life that actually reflects His joy?

Jesus didn’t just preach sermons. He lived. He laughed. He attended weddings. He shared meals. He told stories about fathers and sons, homecomings and celebrations. His life was a living picture of the Kingdom.

So maybe the world doesn’t need more “spiritual” activities. Maybe it needs to see real people walking in real joy.

“Joy is the serious business of Heaven” – C.S Lewis

Final Words

We were created to live in His freedom, to love deeply, and to experience a life full of His abundance.

So let me ask you: What brings you the greatest joy? What sets your heart on fire?

Pursue that—knowing that God is with you through every challenge, strengthening you by His joy.

When you do, you’ll experience a life overflowing with His goodness, freedom, and purpose—the life He has always wanted for you.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)