#[Luke 1:46-49; James 1:2-4; Romans 15:13]#
Jared explores the nature of persevering joy, distinguishing it from fleeting happiness. He illustrates this with the examples of Handel, who composed the Messiah amidst hardship, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, who responded with joy to her incomprehensible calling despite facing adversity. Jared argues that true joy arises from a spiritual ecosystem of faith, hope, and love—a personal relationship with a promise-keeping God experienced in community. He highlights that joy is relational, fostered by seeing the "sparkle" in others' eyes, reflecting God's love for us. Jared emphasizes that joy also stems from understanding and playing one's part in God's overarching plan. Ultimately, he contends that joy is a choice, empowered by the Holy Spirit, even—and especially—in the midst of trials, echoing Paul's call to rejoice always. He illustrates his points with Becca's story, a woman who experienced a liver transplant and autoimmune diseases but found joy in every day tasks and in using her voice to praise God.