DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Icebreaker: It’s hot out right now. What’s the weirdest (effective) strategy you’ve found to beat the heat?

 

Questions to Discuss: 

 

If we choose to rejoice even when we don’t have the feeling of joy, are we being dishonest? What’s the difference between spiritually forming yourself to become more joyful, and repressing your true feelings?

 

Molly listed anxiety, anger, and envy as examples of emotions which are anti-joy. Do you agree that these cannot co-exist with joy, and do you have additional/different examples of emotions that are anti-joy?

 

Why is it so common for people to throw fits, and choose against joy? Shouldn’t we all want to be joyful?

 

Take a moment to pray and ask God where you need to choose joy in your life right now (maybe relationships, waiting, grief, etc.). If it’s helpful, think about the different things that give you anti-joy emotions, and ask God if you need to choose joy in those situations one by one. Then, if you’re comfortable, share what you learn.