Publisher's Synopsis
Joy can feel risky. When you've experienced pain of any kind, it can feel easier not to dream than to be disappointed, or not to hope than to be left heartbroken. If you ever feel like it's safer not to embrace joy at all than to hold something that might break, you're not alone. Thankfully, the Bible paints a different picture—one that gives you the courage to hold on to joy regardless of your circumstances. In this 7-session Bible study, Nicole Zasowski draws from her experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist to point you to the enduring joy Jesus promises. Through the examples of six women in the Bible who model both the vulnerability of joy and the power of celebration, you'll see that God longs for you to embrace abundant joy! Don't miss out on your beautiful, God-given life because you're busy preparing for the worst. Features: 6 weeks of personal Bible study that focus on the examples of 6 women in the Bible 7 video teaching sessions, each approximately 15-20 minutes, available via redemption code printed in Bible study book for individual streaming access Thought-provoking questions and exercises to help you engage with the Bible and apply it to your life Benefits: Engage with the stories of six women in the Bible in new ways as you encounter different pieces of the human experience and God's heart for your joy. Learn to see celebration as an avenue of growth and intimacy with God. Find freedom from the traps of comparison, doubt, and discontentment as you're inspired to celebrate who God is and how He is at work. Engage in practical exercises that help the truth of God's Word take root in your heart and impact your actions. Video Sessions:Session One: Introduction (16:19)—Join Nicole Zasowski as she sets out on the quest to find the courage to practice daring joy. In this introductory video, Nicole shares how years of trial and struggle made her suspicious of joy. But in the Bible, we find a completely different story—a story that opposes the fear that often accompanies our joy and offers us a playbook for how to practice this joy in all circumstances. Session Two: Eve: Trusting God's Joy (19:17)—In this video, Nicole examines how important joy is to God's mission and how central it is to His character, as evident from the very beginning of the Bible when Eve enjoyed the perfect joy of relationship with God in the garden. We experience the fullness of joy when we believe God loves us and put our trust in Him. Session Three: Sarah: The Vulnerability of Joy (12:18)—Through her own story and the story of Sarah in Genesis, Nicole explains why joy is one of the most vulnerable emotional experiences we can encounter. The very act of holding something wonderful is accompanied by the possibility of loss and heartbreak. But that posture keeps us from experiencing the fullness of joy God desires for us. Session Four: Miriam: Comparing Our Joy (13:43)—If comparison is the thief of joy, how can we be women who accelerate joy in one another's hearts? In this video teaching, Nicole extends an invitation for us to learn from Miriam's example, consider the relational aspects of our joy, and encourage one another as we navigate the highs and lows of life together. Session Five: Mary, The Mother of Jesus: The Best Joy (15:53)—Through the story of Mary, Nicole presents the choice we all face to choose Jesus as our greatest joy and move other joys in this life away from the center of our hearts. Even still, we're reminded that Jesus deeply cares for our lesser joys too. He cares about all the contents of our hearts. Session Six: Elizabeth: The Practice of Joy (14:38)—In this video teaching, Nicole explains the importance of practicing joy even when we don't feel like it. More than a reaction to good news or a reward for an accomplishment, joy is a rhythm—a practice—of remembering the goodness of God and a byproduct of living in relationship with Him. Session Seven: Mary Magdalene: Spreading Joy (09:47)—Nicole closes the study by helping us discover the infectious nature of the joy of the Lord. Through Mary Magdalene's story, we come face to face with the joy that is available to us when we share the greatest joy—Jesus Himself—with those who may not yet know the hope found in Him.
