Choosing Joy in the Midst of the Storm
Erin Potter
August 23, 2026
I. Introduction: Joy in the Sunshine vs. Joy in the Storm
- Sunshine boosts serotonin, making joy feel natural.
- “Choose Joy” is easy when life is bright.
- The real challenge: Can you choose joy when the storm hits?
- Sermon in a sentence: Choosing Joy in the Midst of the Storm.
II. Storms Bring Doubt
A. The Israelites’ Doubt
Even though God has brought us through storm after storm we still doubt him and have trouble
choosing Joy when the storms are raging in our lives.
They cried out under slavery, Exodus 2:23-25 (NIV) 23 During that long period, the king of
Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because
of their slavery went up to God. 24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his
covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 25 So God looked on the Israelites and was
concerned about them.
God promised deliverance: Exodus 3:7-8 (NIV) 7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of
my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am
concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the
Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing
with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and
Jebusites.
- Despite miracles, they doubted and wandered for 40 years.
B. Job’s Wife
Job was abundantly blessed Job 1:3 (NIV) 3 and he (talking about Job) owned seven thousand
sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a
large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
In tragedy, she said: Job 2:9 (NIV) 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your
integrity? Curse God and die!”
- Joy was easy in prosperity, but she failed in adversity.
C. John the Baptist
He proclaimed Jesus: Matthew 3:11 (NIV) 11 “I baptize you with [a] water for repentance. But after
me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will
baptize you with [b] the Holy Spirit and fire.
He witnessed the Spirit descend: Matthew 3:16-17 (NIV) 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized,
went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw
the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Even in the womb, he leaped at Jesus’ presence Luke 1:40-44 (KJV) 40 where she entered
Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby
leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she
exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why
am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of
your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has
believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Yet in prison he asked: Matthew 11:1-6 (NIV) 1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve
disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. 2 When John, who
was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you
the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and
report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have
leprosy [b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to
the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” (This was a message
back to John)
- Storms can make even strong believers question God’s timing.
III. You Need the Storm
A. Storms Strengthen Faith
Trials refine faith: 1 Peter 1: 3-9 (NIV) 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. (It
can’t go bad, it has no expiration date) This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who
through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be
revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may
have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven
genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by
fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have
not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and
are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your
faith, the salvation of your souls.
- This passage said to rejoice “choose joy” even if you are faced with many trials and
tribulations that is causing your spirit to be heavy. Know that even when your faith is
being put on trial, choosing joy is valued more precious than gold. You may go through
the fire but choosing joy through praise and honor and glory, knowing that Jesus will
appear and meet you in and through the storm.
B. Joseph’s Journey
- Betrayed, enslaved, falsely accused — yet God was orchestrating his future.
- Joseph declared: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…” (Gen.50:20 NIV)
IV. Choose Joy and Praise in the Storm
A. Paul and Silas
Acts (NIV) 16:22-30 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the
magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been
severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard
them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened
their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to
God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent
earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors
flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the
prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the
prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 29 The
jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought
them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
B. David in the Cave
- Hiding from Saul (Psalm 57 NIV).
He prayed: 1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
He shifted to praise: 7 My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
V. His Grace Is Sufficient
A. Paul’s Thorn
- Paul had a physical ailment and he went to God three times to request it be removed.
2 Cor. 12:7–8. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the
revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me,
lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might
depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made
perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities,
in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
- Paul pleaded three times
- God answered: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9 NIV)
- Paul chose joy in weakness, knowing God’s strength is revealed there.
B. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Daniel 3:16-18, 23-25
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar,
we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is
able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O
king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor
worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 23 And these three men, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said
unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They
answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men
loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is
like the Son of God.
- These three men were in a storm facing death but they did not stutter or stumble in
their faith in God. They said, “we are not careful to answer thee in this matter”. This is
to say, we know that you are the King and that everyone bows down to you but in this
matter, we will not sugar coat our language or tip toe around the subject. Let there be
no question on our God’s ability to save us. He can save us if he wants but even if he
doesn’t, he is still GOD!!
C. Storms Align You with God’s Purpose
- The Kevlar analogy: trials + tribulations → shaping → alignment → strengthening → weaving with the Trinity.
- Storms remove what doesn’t belong and prepare you for God’s assignment.
VI. Retain the Faith
A. Peter Walking on Water
- Peter walked successfully while focused on Jesus.
- When he looked at the storm, “he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out…” (Matt.14:30 NIV)
- Joy requires focus on Christ, not the storm.
B. The Enemy’s Strategy
- The devil aims to steal joy and faith.
- Joy is a weapon — it keeps you anchored in God’s promises.
C. Victory Through Joy
- When serotonin is low and storms rage, joy becomes a spiritual choice.
- Joy declares: God is still in control, and the devil is already defeated.
How to Overcome Negativity and
Exterminate Your ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts)
John M. Wallace, Jr., PhD
August 16, 2026
Key Word
Negativity Bias Our brain’s natural tendency to notice, remember, and give more weight to negative experiences than positive ones.
1 Kings 19: 1-4 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal
with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
Key Word
Repent A change of mind or perception, reorient the whole way one perceives and thinks
Repentance = Kingdom Thinking
Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of Christ heaven has come near.”
Sermon in a sentence
The way to exterminate our ANTs is to repent, and replace them with Kingdom thinking (and
speaking).
Romans 8:28 And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about
us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.
James 1:2-4 2 Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. 3 Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your
faith], lacking in nothing.
Joseph
Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
David
Psalm 42:5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Job
Job 1:20-21 20 Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, 21 saying: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. 22 Throughout all
this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.
Job 2:9-10 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not
trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.
Disclaimer: Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We believe and teach that the Bible is God’s Word — His opinion — and provides His instruction for how to live life under His rule (i.e., the Kingdom of God).
