Because He Lives, You Can Live with Joy, with Nicole Jacobsmeyer

Because Jesus lives, you can have joy in the highs and the lows: on your best days, your worst days, and even in the darkest of pits. In this episode of Grounded, Nicole Jacobsmeyer will help you live out your trials with the hope of the resurrection.

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Episode Notes

• “Take Back Your Joy, with Nicole Jacobsmeyer” video 
• Take Back Your Joy book by Nicole Jacobsmeyer
• “Championing Joy in the Midst of Hard Times, with Katherine Wolf” video  

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Erin Davis: “Count it all joy.” That's what the apostle Paul told us to do when we face trials of many kinds. That's only possible because of what Jesus accomplished on our behalf on the cross. I'm Erin Davis, and you're watching a special Holy Week edition of Grounded.

Dannah Gresh: And I am Dannah Gresh. Erin, you know, as I think about this week, the special editions we've been doing, we have faced trials of many kinds. I mean, we're on here proclaiming the joy of Jesus. But behind the scenes our guest from yesterday, her mom did pass away. You have testified about how your mom has been walking through Alzheimer's and how difficult that is. 

I mean, it's not like we're sitting here going, “Everything's fine.” 

Erin: Yeah, this isn't a pep rally; it's not a pep rally.

Dannah: Right. So much of life is not fine, and that's why we're here. In fact, this morning, Erin, I was putting my makeup on in the bathroom. I was thinking, it was three years ago, three years that we started Grounded. It was a daily thing, just like we're doing this week. So, it's kind of what I love this week. It just takes me back to those early days of Grounded when everything was definitely not okay. We met in a Zoom Room. 

Erin: We did.

Dannah: During lockdown to proclaim the hope and perspective that we have through Jesus Christ, through His death on the cross.

Erin: Yeah, I hope we did learn some reps with our joy muscles, our peace muscles, our trust muscles during all of that, because we all felt really out of control. And we still need to know those things today. 

I've been feeling nostalgic about the beginning of Grounded too and all of this. I loved it when we did it every day. I don't think anybody looks back at the events of 2020 and think that was easy breezy, what an easy year. But I can look back with joy. I got to be with you every morning Dannah. I did love that. 

But one of the things that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, which we are so anticipating and thinking about this week, one of the things that does in our actual lives is it helps us respond to the good years, the bad years, the happy days, the not so happy days, through joy-colored glasses. That's what we want to encourage today.

Dannah: I like that, joy-colored glasses. 

Erin: I don't know if they’re rose colored or gold colored or just joy-colored glasses

Dannah: Joy-colored glasses are the best. 

Our guest today is Nicole Jacobsmeyer. And she's going to tell we're going to tell you more about that in a minute. But first, I hope you've been reading along with us because this week, we've been exploring some of the events of the Holy Week together on all of these daily Grounded. And one of my favorite accounts in all of Scripture happened on Wednesday of Holy Week, all those years ago. You can read about it in Matthew 26:6– 16 and Mark 14:3–11.

Erin: Yeah, when I was kind of mapping out what was happening these days of Holy Week, and we how we talked about them, I was so excited. I knew you had to have this one. Because I know how much you love this story. 

What Scripture tells us happened on the Wednesday of Holy Week was that this was the day that Satan entered Judas. And he went to the chief priest and officially betrayed Jesus for a little bit of silver. You can read about that story in Luke chapter 22 verses 3–6. We're gonna drop all of those references in the chat for you. So, don't feel like you have to jot them all down right now. But we want you to get into your Bible and pay attention to what was going on this week all those years ago. 

Dannah: Yeah. If you have yours nearby, grab it. I’ve got mine. I'm really excited to read what I get to read to you today, because I really do, as Erin said, love this story. Follow along with me. This is Matthew 26:6–13. 

While Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman approached him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She poured it on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw it, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This might have been sold for a great deal and given to the poor.”

Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a noble thing for me. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me. By pouring this perfume on my body, she has prepared me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Erin: So good. 

Dannah: Good stuff in there. 

Erin: I would love to just stop here and banter about this passage. We could mine it and mine and mine and find lots of gold, but we do want to get into our episode. And joy doesn't have to be just an Easter morning feeling. I hope you have great joy on Resurrection Sunday. But because Jesus lives, you can have joy in the highs and the lows, on your best days in your worst days, even in the darkest of pits. 

Our guest today is a living testimony of that. 

Help us get grounded with God's people. Portia. 

Portia Collins: Well, Nicole Jacobsmeyer is back with us again. And if you missed her last appearance on Grounded, you're gonna want to go back and watch that we'll drop a link for you to check it out. I have officially dubbed Nicole as the joy coach, because she knows how to steer us in the right direction. And I know she's going to do just that today. So welcome back to Grounded, Nicole.

Nicole Jacobsmeyer: Oh, thank you so much.

Portia: Well, the last time that you were here on Grounded, we started our conversation by differentiating joy and happiness. I'd really, really like for us to start here again, just to help our Grounded sisters get a biblical understanding of joy. So, if you could share with us exactly, what is biblical joy? And how is it different from happiness? Or even just general pleasure? 

Nicole: Yes, so happiness is fleeting; it can change at any time. But joy is that rooted and founded assurance that God is with us and Christ is our joy. It's a fruit of the Spirit. It's something that we can cultivate, and have, regardless of what we go through. But happiness is fleeting.

Portia: Absolutely, absolutely. Well, that leads me to this: you have this book entitled Take Back Your Joy. And when I hear that title, I assume that there was a catalyst or some pivotal moment that calls you to pause and really think about what it means to have joy. And so, what did God do specifically in your life to cause you to seek Him for true, biblical, lasting joy? 

Nicole: Well, I had so many hard things happen, one after the other in my life, that I was having a very difficult time opening the word and reading verses, like James 1:2 where it says, “Consider it joy when you face trials.” I would stop there. I wouldn't read the rest, which I now know that you need to read the whole verse and the whole passage in its full context, so that we understand God's heart for us when we are going through pain. 

And when we are going through trials, He's not asking us to be happy. He is actually calling us higher to have this assurance in this joy, that no matter what we go through, He's not going to waste that. He's not going to waste every little hardship, every big hardship, every trial, all the suffering. He will not waste it because that is the faithfulness of God. 

I didn't know that. So trials really made me dig into the word even more so that I had a better understanding.

Portia: So just when you say trials, are we talking little stuff? big stuff? Give us an example of what that looked like in how that particular thing pushed you towards joy.

Nicole: Oh, yeah, they were all pretty big events in my life, some horrific, some traumatizing. I had rape. I had abuse. I had major depression, clinical depression. I was diagnosed with cancer. We lost a baby through miscarriage. I mean, it just has been a life of pain in so many ways.

I didn't want to look at that as the Christian life I didn't want to look at this Christian life thinking, This is all it's going to be. And when the Lord talks about joy, that's what I want. I want that because I want that unshakable faith, that no matter what I continue to go through, because I'm only in my 30s. I have a whole life ahead of me, God willing. 

And so, I want to make sure that I am so rooted, and an example for my children and for those around me that I can have that joy, no matter what big things happen, and no matter what little things happen.

Portia: So, I guess, for me now, the looming question is, do you, have it? Can we have it? Can you honestly say that you have the joy of the Lord? I would love for you to just share your heart on what that looks like in your life?

Nicole: I mean, I would hope so. I hope I am. You know, but I do think it's a day-to-day thing. It's that obedience and that discipline. It's coming before the Lord knowing that we don't have anything to offer that He is on His throne, that He is the one that we serve that can transform our lives. He's the one that can bring us this joy. He's the one that restores and heals and redeems. We serve that God. And so, knowing that I'm His servant, that I am. I'm His, that brings me joy. 

And so, as much as I want to say, yes, I have joy all the time, I don't think that that's 100% true, because I have my moments like everyone else. But I can count it all joy because I know what God does with it and what He produces because of that pain.

Portia: Oh, I love that you can count it all joy, because you know what God does with it. Amen, amen.

Okay, so this brings me to a little bit of a follow-up. As believers, it can be easy for us to think, well, once we lay hold of that biblical joy that it's like a one and done thing. And you've kind of already alluded to this. But I know and I'm sure you know that we have to continue to fight for joy. So, it's like, once we realize what that is, we’ e got to keep persisting. And so how do we do that? Specifically, through surges of hard circumstances and situations that threaten to steal our joy? How do we continue to persist, enjoy and fight for joy?

Nicole: Right, I think it is different in every season and depending on what trial you're going through. But the first two things that I can think of, we have got to be rooted in the Word. We have got to know the true heart and character of God. 

Because when we know whose we are, and we know whose hands our life is in, then we're not doubting. We're not questioning. We want to remain disciplined. And when we know the Word, when we have those verses, and those passages that ring true to our soul, when we do go through painful things, that's where our mind goes. We don't look to the right or to the left. We don't look at what God's doing, or what He's not doing in other people's paths. We don't have the comparison. We don't have the discontented heart. We know whose we are. And we have those verses, those key truths that we can stand on. 

But that's where it starts: knowing the Word and knowing God's character and heart for His people, and for us individually.

Portia: Amen, amen, amen. What I hear you saying is being anchored in the Word, like anchored. Knowing what God is saying. And the hope that we have in Him is what's true, even beyond our circumstance is. 

Nicole: Yes. 

Portia: Amen. Well, you know that joy is good, it's biblical, it's what we should do. But I also know that I struggle sometimes. Particularly, I struggle with being authentically joyful. Sometimes my joy feels more dutiful. I want to know how do we cultivate true joy in a way that is not pretentious or maybe even forced? 

Nicole: I think it's about being authentic before the Lord knowing who we are. We're sinful, we're fallen, we desperately need a Savior. I think when we have that humility, that's when authenticity comes. That's when that genuine faith is really cultivated in our lives, because we know His place, and we know our place at the foot of the cross. 

I think being honest with each other, knowing your girls got some issues over here. You have your things, everybody's got their stuff that we're working out with the Lord. And being honest about that that's not trying to hide or pretend or be perfect or think we're better than everybody. We all desperately need Jesus. It starts with that humility.

Portia: Yes, I love that, having our joy be tethered to humility. That is where we see authenticity. Amen, girl, amen. 

Well alright, so I’ve got one more question. I could talk to you all day long. I say you are officially the joy coach.

Nicole: I love you. 

Portia: I believe that living joyfully is truly a blessing in and of itself, to truly have the joy of the Lord is a blessing from God. But I know that God compounds this blessing of joy oftentimes with other things. And so how has God specifically used joy to open your eyes to other ways that He is blessing you.

Nicole: I was just thinking about this the other day, because I've been trying to have such an attitude of gratefulness, and this posture of thankfulness before Him on a daily basis, regardless of my circumstances. I'm telling you that has brought so much joy in my life, because I know we need to be rooted in the Word. We need to know God's heart for us. I know we need to forgive and live content and not compare, all of those things. 

But having this posture of thankfulness throughout the day almost adds blessing to your life. You start to see the bigger picture of what God is doing. You start to see things that you might not even have had the eyes to be able to see because you were so focused on this or that and complaining about your life. 

But when you see things for what God is doing, it's like you're finally able to take a step back and just realize what He's doing on a huge scale. That's not even the start of it. And so, the fact that God is giving us glimpses is just beautiful. It starts with that thankfulness, and that is where that joy comes.

Portia: Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. Well, as I've said before, you exude joy. You have coached us up. I always think about the Scripture where it talks about stirring up other believers, and you stir me up with joy. Thank you so much for being with us today. Nicole, I am grateful for your life and your testimony and your witness. 

Nicole: Thank you. I love this.

Portia: I hope that we can have you back again.

Nicole: Thank you. You bring so much joy too, friend.

Portia: Thank you. They call me the resident joy bomb around here.

Nicole: There you go. 

Portia: Thank you. Have a good day. 

Nicole: You, too. 

Portia: Living with joy. Maybe that’s one of the best ways that we can actually live out the hope of the resurrection. We want you to watch this short clip from a previous Grounded episode. And let Catherine Wolf (she is amazing) recruit you for the joy revolution. Let's watch.

Erin: It’s time for me to say some of my favorite words. Open your Bible. We're going to be in Hebrews chapter 12, verses 1–2 together today. Easter does ooze joy, doesn't it? I mean, there's the pastel-colored eggs with the candy. Lots of sweet treats. Little girls and pretty dresses. I love the little boys in the bow ties. Not to mention, the joy of honey ham and cheesy potatoes. But actually, those things are not evidences of joy at all. 

You've already known this. And Nicole just shared it beautifully. Happiness and joy are not synonyms. Happiness is circumstantial. But what then is joy? I want you to listen to what the writer of Hebrews wrote. I think he gives us a very complex and really beautiful definition of joy. Hebrews 12:1–2. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race set before us [You're like, where's the joy Erin? And here it comes verse 2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Who has joy in this passage? Jesus does. And the Bible connects joy to the cross. It connects joy to suffering. It connects joy even to death, even the horrific death that Jesus endured that we will celebrate on Good Friday. 

Why did Jesus go to the cross? I hope you're asking that question this week. I hope as familiar as these stories might be, that the spirit is stirring in you a fresh offer at all. So why did Jesus submit Himself to all of those trials in kangaroo courts? Why did He let the soldiers that He had formed in their mother's womb whip Him and mock Him? Why did he willingly let them nail his hands to the cross? Why did He endure all of that? Scripture says what he had in his sight was joy. He was wearing joy-colored glasses as He hung on the cross. And what was Jesus's joy? You and me, the joy set before Jesus was seeing us ransom from the punishment of sin, redeemed and restored, so that we could be in Heaven with Him forever. 

So, what does give Jesus joy? You do. So much so that He endured the cross to save you. So, if you are Jesus's source of joy, what's your source of joy? He is. For the joy set before you, the promise of eternal life with Jesus, you can endure whatever life might be throwing at you today, and I can too. 

I think about the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve lost so much as a result of their sin. But you know what, they didn't lose. They didn't lose God, and they didn't lose each other. And that's true of us today. We can have joy because we have Jesus now, and in the future, the joy of the resurrection is not candy-colored decorations. Although I love me some Easter decorations. 

It's not even a great meal with the people you love most. Here's why you could have joy. Jesus is your joy today, and He can always be your joy. And you are Jesus' joy today. And you will always be His joy. 

Dannah: What a simple but profound thought Erin. And, you know, as we close this program, I just can't stop thinking of a sentence that Nicole said, that “joy is tethered to humility.” And even as you were teaching about Jesus, I was thinking about the humility of Christ is what enabled Him to face that cross. 

Erin: Yeah.

Dannah: And whatever trial, whatever hardship you're going through today, approach it with humility, because joy is tethered to that humility. 

I was even thinking of a trial I'm walking through right now. It's not even a terrible trial, just some decisions that are weighing heavily on me, that burdened me throughout the weekend. And I thought, I probably need a little more humility, in this trial, in this decision, and I believe that when I find it, that's when the Lord is going to return His joy to me. 

Erin: That’s so good. 

Dannah: I don’t know who needed to hear that today. 

Erin: But so good. And here's why it matters. It matters for the sake of the gospel. God's people must be joy-filled as we proclaim that He lives. We’re proclaiming that He lives. Without that joy it is not a message that the lost hear. So again, that requires a step of humility for us too. 

Dannah: Yeah, as you're planning your Easter dinner, that honey ham, those cheesy potatoes, and I might add the pineapple baked stuffing. 

Erin: Oh yeah, you’ve told us about that before.

Dannah: It’s very good. Maybe make yourself a little humble pie to go with all that.

Erin: Amen. 

Portia: Nothing wrong with a little humble pie.

Erin: Especially with a dollop of whipped cream if you can find it, I'm just saying.

Portia: Absolutely. Well our Holy Week episodes are winding down I'm kind of sad, but happy because we're getting to Resurrection Sunday. But it's been a joy to do this, this week. We have just two episodes left. I guess you could say maybe we've saved the best for last. Colleen Chao will be with us tomorrow. She's gonna be sharing because He lives, you can face death with hope.

Erin: And Robert Wolgemuth. We got them both, Colleen and Robert. It’s a double header.

Portia: You don't want to miss it. Let’s wake up with hope together tomorrow on Grounded. 

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