Passage: Psalms 126:1-6
Summary
Jesus didn’t come to give us seasonal cheer. He came to give us a joy that can’t be stolen, can't be canceled, and can’t be shaken by the brokenness of this world.
Sermon Questions
- When you look back over your life, what moment makes you say, “The Lord has done great things for me”? Why do you think remembering God's past faithfulness is essential for sustaining joy in the present?
- The psalm shifts from celebration to prayer: “Restore our fortunes, O Lord.” What does this teach us about biblical joy? Where in your life do you feel the tension between what God has done and what you still long for Him to do?
- Psalm 126 ends with a picture of someone who goes out weeping but comes home carrying sheaves of blessing. How does this image strengthen your hope?
- How is biblical joy different from everyday happiness? Why does this matter for your walk with Jesus right now?
- What practices can you step into this week to cultivate joy—gratitude, prayer, worship, community, Scripture, service? If God fulfilled one longing or restored one area of your life in 2026, what would you hope it would be—and how can you bring that before Him daily?