[Cut: Be sure to stay or read to the end to learn about the most recent announcement and opportunity to participate in the Free Online Faith and Soul Care Retreat starting at the end of this month - May 2025. Join the private Facebook group where the retreat teachings will be streamed!]
Let’s talk about peace and joy.
I don’t mean the kind that comes after a day at the spa or a good vacation, not even a vacation to a
beautiful beach or beautiful lake destination. I mean real peace. Lasting joy.
The kind that doesn’t evaporate when you go back to the loud world. It doesn't disappear when when
something really unexpected happens, nor when heartache or loss enters into our
lives.
Here’s the thing I’ve been learning (and re-learning): Peace and joy are
not actually just emotions. They are not fleeting feelings we try to chase down
or manufacture on our own. They are gifts from God. They are fruit—fruit of the Spirit. God provides us the seeds of peace and joy,
and we are to grow and cultivate them.
Grow and cultivate them? Peace and joy? You mean, like strawberries or peaches?
What does that mean? How do we grow our sense of joy?
Well, let’s take a look.
[Listen to this blog post on the Faith and Soul Care podcast:]
In Galatians 5, we have the list of the fruits of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”
We often read this list like a spiritual personality test -- thinking, Oh I need to work on patience. I need to get me some more of that self -control - or we look at others around us and think, "I wish I had more joy like she seems to have." But here's what we miss: This gifts of spiritual fruit are not something we have to strain or strive hard to produce. Fruit is something that grows naturally when the tree is healthy and when it is nourished and connected to the right essentials.
Jesus says in John 15:5:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you,
you will bear much fruit.”
So let’s go back to that question again – how do we grow and cultivate
spiritual fruit like peace and joy? Jesus
told us how. Remain in me, abide in me.
So peace and joy are not about trying harder to do better or be better. Peace and joy come when we stay connected. Joy grows out of abiding in the presence and love of Christ. They are Spirit-generated, not self-generated. The verses in John 15 go on, and Jesus explains further that one of the main reasons we abide in him is so that his joy may be in and and then our joy will be full. Overflowing.
Yes-it's been right there - written and recorded for thousands of years exactly what Jesus taught on receiving peace and joy - but most of us have still missed this!
Growing and Cultivating: Our Role in Receiving and Caring for the Gifts
Here’s where it gets tricky. It may sound like we don’t have to work
hard to grow peace and joy. We just have to abide. However, we do have a role to
play out in abiding. We do have to develop the practices and habits
related to abiding.
Of course, we do that by spending time with Jesus—by praying intentionally and tracking our prayers for His answers and responses. We intentionally reflect on the good in our lives, even when the good things seem very small in comparison to what may not seem good. We renew our minds, intentionally. We operate within His values, we grow ourselves spiritually, thoughtfully, emotionally, and relationally. These aren't duties - they are connection sources!
All of those types of practices are the necessities to receive His hope, peace, and joy – those practices are what constitute the good soil, and the sunlight, and the watering of the soul.
But let’s be honest—staying committed to that kind of soul care and
spiritual growth can be hard. We have distractions, and we start "going through
the motions," and it starts to feel dull, and we end up skipping over these
things and missing out on our source! Just like starting a new habit or practice, we
often begin with good intentions… but life gets busy, routines get disrupted,
and we end up feeling more disconnected than ever. That’s why growing in peace
and joy is so much easier—and so much more life-giving—when we’re doing it with
others.
The problem is that finding that kind of support isn’t always easy. In person Women’s Bible studies and small groups can be hard to come by, especially if you’re working full-time or managing family needs and cannot attend during weekday, workday hours. So many groups meet during weekday mornings, which works great for some, but not for everyone. And while in-person retreats can offer amazing experiences, they’re often expensive and require some travel, and let’s face it—not all of us can leave town for a few days. This is not to mention that the retreat is an experience what has a start date and an end date. After that, the attendees are sent home to keep up the habits on their own.
That’s exactly why I created the Faith and Soul Care Online Retreat and Connection Cohorts—a space where you don’t have to go it alone. It’s
completely online and accessible from home—no travel, no fancy plans, just
honest community and teaching that meets you right where you
are. You can walk through the teachings for free and at your own pace, and if
you want a deeper level of connection, you can join one of the online small group
cohorts designed to encourage spiritual growth, rest, spiritual breakthroughs, and
restoration together.
So, friend, if your soul has been tired and you’re longing for more joy,
more peace, more connection with God and others, I invite you to join us in
the Faith and Soul Care Private Facebook group where the retreat teachings
will be shared. You’ll find encouragement, guidance, and kind-hearted women
walking the same path. You can join the group today – you are welcome -- there
will be some pre-teachings and activities in the group before we officially launch together
at the end of this month.
So for all the information and details about what we will learn during our summer retreat, you may go to SherryElaine.com and click on the cohorts tab. After you request to join the Facebook group,go back and review your options should you wish to upgrade and be a part of the
small group cohort I will be facilitating and leading. Again, this is all starting at the
end of this month. This will be the first round of these retreats and cohorts, starting in late May of 2025, and the
next one will start in late summer or early fall. The next cohort will have new topics which will build on this first one. So
don’t delay! Join in – you are invited!
You’re not meant to walk this journey alone—and you don’t have to. This is for you if you are missing your connection with God, or you know it can be a stronger connection. This is for ladies who want more – more of Jesus – more of the Spirit – and more peace, meaning, connection, and joy.
I hope to see many of you soon – bye for now.
-Sherry
More Resources:
Join the author's Facebook group for the upcoming online Renew and Revive Retreat for Soul Care:
New! Prayer and Reflection Journal I Designed! I love how the journal turned out! It has all I need for prayer tracking and reflections and re-setting my mind with struggles I am facing.
If you would like to learn simple, practical ways to walk with God every single day, then you would really enjoy Closer to God: Simple Methods, Starting Today
If you need motivation to eat healthier or lose weight while also growing closer to God, then you would enjoy Weight Loss for Christians, An Extraordinarily Simple Way to Conquer Cravings
If you want to learn more deeply and fully about what Jesus taught, then you would enjoy Words of Jesus - Bible Study on Christ's Teachings
More Resource Channels:
Gospel Life Learning Instagram
Sherry Elaine - Books Authored