How to Have Joy When Life Is Hard | October Gathering | Danielle Doss

Have you ever felt so far behind spiritually that you don't even know where to start? Life gets busy, routines fall apart, and suddenly spending time with God feels like one more thing you don't have time for.But what if we've made it harder than it needs to be?In this episode of SHE Grows, we're talking about rebuilding spiritual habits when life feels overwhelming. We often put so much pressure on what time with God should look like that we miss the opportunity to simply show up and be with Him.What if you started with five minutes? What if you attached prayer to something you already do every day? What if the goal wasn't to check another box on your to-do list, but to cultivate a relationship that makes you hungry for more?We're getting practical about micro-habits, habit stacking, consistency, and creating spiritual rhythms that actually fit into everyday life. But more importantly, we're challenging the idea that we have to earn our way back into God's presence when we've been inconsistent.In this conversation, we'll talk about:Why we overcomplicate spiritual disciplines and make getting started harder than it needs to be.How habit stacking can help you incorporate prayer, worship, and Scripture into your everyday routine.Why small, consistent habits create momentum for spiritual growth.The difference between spending time with God out of obligation and spending time with Him out of relationship.How to stop approaching your quiet time like a checklist and start seeing your entire day as an ongoing conversation with God.Why missing a day doesn't mean you've failed or have to start all over again.Here's your reminder: You don't have to wait until life slows down, your schedule clears up, or you have the perfect quiet time routine. You already have access to His presence. You just have to come.Consistency over intensity. Connection over checklist.We'd love to hear from you! What's one small way you've learned to incorporate time with God into your everyday routine? Tell us in the comments!If this conversation encourages you, subscribe to SHE Grows, share it with a friend who needs the reminder, and leave us a review!#SpiritualHabits #ChristianGrowth #QuietTimeWithGod #PrayerLife #BibleStudyPartner with SHE! Help us continue to spread the message the Lord has for women. Link arms with us and let's see this message go farther! Just choose SHE in the drop-down menu using the link below. Thank you for being so generous! We're in this together! https://cultivatechurch.churchcenter.com/giving Connect with us!INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK YouTubeCULTIVATE CHURCHSHE : Cultivate [email protected] 

What does it look like to hold onto joy when life gives you every reason to let it go?In this Coffee Talk conversation, we’re going deeper into the message Danielle shared at our recent SHE gathering and talking about the kind of joy that goes beyond happiness, positive thinking, or having everything work out the way we hoped.Through Zephaniah 3:17, Habakkuk 3:17–19, and the truth of God’s character, we explore what it means to trust Him when we don’t understand, find joy when our circumstances are difficult, and fight to hold onto what God has made available to us.Because biblical joy doesn’t mean pretending life is good when it isn’t. It means knowing God is good even when we can’t make sense of what’s happening around us.In this conversation, we talk about:The beautiful truth that God doesn’t just love us—He delights in us.Why trust and joy go hand in hand, even when we don’t have understanding.Habakkuk’s declaration to rejoice in God when everything around him was falling apart.The difference between choosing joy and pretending everything is okay.How to fight for joy without turning it into another expectation we feel guilty for not meeting.What it looks like to return to God as our source of joy in the middle of real life.If you’re walking through a season of uncertainty, disappointment, or waiting, this conversation is a reminder that your circumstances don’t get the final say in where your hope is rooted.You can acknowledge what is hard and still trust the goodness of God. You can grieve what you’ve lost and still have joy. And even when you don’t understand what God is doing, you can choose to trust who He is.We hope this conversation encourages you to go deeper in your relationship with Jesus and hold onto the joy that is found in Him.SCRIPTURE REFERENCESZephaniah 3:17Habakkuk 3:17–19Galatians 5:22–23John 15:9–11James 1:2–4Psalm 113If this conversation encouraged you, make sure to like this video, subscribe to the channel, and share it with someone who needs the reminder that joy is still possible in the middle of a hard season.We’d love to hear from you in the comments: What does choosing joy look like in your season right now?#SHEGrows #ChristianPodcast #BiblicalJoyPartner with SHE! Help us continue to spread the message the Lord has for women. Link arms with us and let's see this message go farther! Just choose SHE in the drop-down menu using the link below. Thank you for being so generous! We're in this together! https://cultivatechurch.churchcenter.com/giving Connect with us!INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK YouTubeCULTIVATE CHURCHSHE : Cultivate [email protected] 

What does it look like to have joy when life doesn't look joyful?Biblical joy isn't about pretending everything is fine, forcing a smile, or waiting until every problem is resolved before we can experience peace. It's a deeper, steadier joy rooted in the goodness of Jesus—a joy that can coexist with grief, grow through seasons of uncertainty, and sustain us when life doesn't make sense.In this message from our SHE women's gathering, Danielle unpacks what Scripture teaches us about the joy of the Lord and how we can pursue it in our everyday lives. Because joy isn't dependent on everything around us falling into place. It begins with God, grows as we trust Him, and matures as we remain connected to Jesus.Together, we'll explore how to:Fix your focus on what is true, eternal, and worthy of praise.Fight for joy by choosing to turn toward Jesus when discouragement, resentment, or isolation threaten to take over.Let joy grow as the Holy Spirit produces His fruit in your life.And perhaps most importantly, we'll discover why joy and sorrow can share the same heart. You don't have to deny your pain to experience the goodness of God. Even in seasons that feel barren, you can still find hope in the God of your salvation.Whether you're walking through a difficult season, feeling overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life, or simply longing for a deeper faith, this message is an invitation to stop striving for circumstantial happiness and discover the lasting joy found in Jesus.Scriptures referenced: Zephaniah 3:17, Psalm 16:11, Romans 15:13, Habakkuk 3:17–18, 1 Peter 1:3–9, Philippians 4:8, Romans 5:3–5, James 1:2–4, Galatians 5:22–23, John 15:9–11, and Psalm 42:5.If this message encouraged you, share it with someone who needs the reminder that joy is still possible in the middle of a hard season.Subscribe for more biblical teaching, honest conversations, and encouragement to keep growing in your walk with Jesus.Partner with SHE! Help us continue to spread the message the Lord has for women. Link arms with us and let's see this message go farther! Just choose SHE in the drop-down menu using the link below. Thank you for being so generous! We're in this together! https://cultivatechurch.churchcenter.com/giving Connect with us!INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK YouTubeCULTIVATE CHURCHSHE : Cultivate [email protected] 

What do you do when someone you love is struggling with something you believe goes against God's Word? And how do you hold firmly to biblical truth without making that person feel like their struggle is all you see?In this episode of SHE Grows, we're tackling a difficult and deeply personal question about navigating sexuality, sexual sin, and faith. Especially when it involves our children.It's easy to become so focused on correcting behavior that we lose sight of the person in front of us. But biblical conviction and genuine compassion are not enemies. We can speak truth without shaming people, love someone without compromising our beliefs, and recognize that every one of us needs the transforming work of Jesus.In this conversation, we're exploring:Why we must see the heart and soul of a person, not just their struggleHow to hold to biblical truth while leading with compassionWhy we cannot create a hierarchy of sin that excuses our own struggles while condemning someone else'sWhat surrender to Jesus looks like for every believerWhy behavior management alone cannot produce spiritual transformationHow parents can create space for honest conversations while faithfully discipling their childrenThe hope of the gospel for anyone who feels ashamed, confused, or caught in a struggleOur goal isn't to water down Scripture or win an argument. It's to point people toward Jesus. The One who calls us to surrender, meets us with grace, and transforms lives through the power of His Spirit.Whether you're a parent trying to navigate a difficult season with your child, a friend walking alongside someone you love, or someone wrestling with questions of your own, we pray this conversation helps you hold truth and love together.You don't have to choose between biblical conviction and compassion. We need Jesus to teach us how to carry both.If this conversation encourages you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe to SHE Grows for more honest, Scripture-centered conversations about following Jesus and growing in faith.#SHEGrows #BiblicalTruth #ChristianParentingPartner with SHE! Help us continue to spread the message the Lord has for women. Link arms with us and let's see this message go farther! Just choose SHE in the drop-down menu using the link below. Thank you for being so generous! We're in this together! https://cultivatechurch.churchcenter.com/giving Connect with us!INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK YouTubeCULTIVATE CHURCHSHE : Cultivate [email protected] 

What do you do when your teenager is anxious, depressed, or struggling with thoughts that scare you as a parent? How do you know when it's a normal part of growing up and when it's time to get help? And how do you lead your child toward Jesus without minimizing what they're going through?In this episode of SHE Grows, we're having an important, honest conversation about teen mental health, parenting, and faith. As pastors and parents, we want to help families navigate these difficult moments with both biblical truth and genuine compassion.In this conversation, we discuss:The world our kids are growing up in: How social media, algorithms, and the search for belonging are shaping the way teenagers understand themselves, God, and the world around them.Recognizing when something is wrong: Understanding the difference between everyday emotions and signs that your teen may need additional support.Connection before correction: Learning to listen without rushing to fix, lecture, or offer easy answers when our kids are hurting.Making room for honest faith: Why our children need to know they can bring their pain, questions, doubts, and darkest feelings to God without pretending they're okay.When to seek professional help: How Christian faith, trusted community, and qualified mental health professionals can work together to support your child.Responding to suicidal thoughts: Practical steps parents can take when a teen says something that raises concerns about suicide.Supporting families who have experienced loss: A compassionate reminder that a family's grief cannot be measured by how much they loved their child or how strong their faith was.Our heart is to help parents see the whole person, not just the behavior or struggle in front of them. We can hold firmly to biblical truth while making room for real pain. We can pray while pursuing professional care. And we can love our children well without having every answer.You don't have to know exactly what to say. You do need to be willing to listen, take their concerns seriously, and help them find the support they need.📖 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” — Psalm 34:18 (NLT)NEED HELP NOW?If you or someone you know in the United States is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If someone is in immediate danger or has attempted suicide, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.If a teenager shares thoughts of suicide, take them seriously, stay with them if they may be in danger, and connect them with appropriate professional support.LET'S KEEP GROWING TOGETHERSubscribe to SHE Grows for honest conversations rooted in Scripture that challenge us to grow in our faith, our relationships, and our everyday lives.If this conversation could help another parent, share this episode with them. And we'd love to hear from you in the comments: What's one thing you believe helps a child feel safe enough to be honest about what they're going through?#SHEGrows #TeenMentalHealth #ChristianParentingPartner with SHE! Help us continue to spread the message the Lord has for women. Link arms with us and let's see this message go farther! Just choose SHE in the drop-down menu using the link below. Thank you for being so generous! We're in this together! https://cultivatechurch.churchcenter.com/giving Connect with us!INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK YouTubeCULTIVATE CHURCHSHE : Cultivate [email protected] 

Do you ever feel like you’re failing at being a “good Christian woman” because you can’t seem to keep up with everything?Your quiet time. Your marriage. Your kids. Your work. Your home. Your friendships. Your ministry. Your health. Your emotions. Your spiritual life.Somewhere along the way, many of us absorbed the idea that being a faithful woman means having it all together, and when we can’t, we assume something is wrong with us, our faith, or our relationship with God.But what if perfectionism isn’t actually holiness?In this episode of SHE Grows, we’re talking about the pressure so many Christian women carry to perform, please, achieve, and get everything “right.” We’re unpacking how perfectionism can hide behind spiritual discipline, people-pleasing, comparison, control, and even our desire to be faithful.We talk about:• The “good Christian woman” myth and how perfectionism gets absorbed over time• Why Proverbs 31 was never meant to be a daily checklist• The difference between Christian maturity and perfectionism• How comparison causes us to bury what God has actually given us• What Jesus meant when He said, “Be perfect”• Why grace doesn’t lower the standard, it changes our motivation• How control can disguise itself as faithfulness• Recognizing the red flags of perfectionism in your spiritual life• Learning to rest, say no, and embrace “good enough” where it’s actually enough• Why we’re often better at extending grace to others than receiving it ourselvesAnd we end with one of the most freeing questions Jesus ever asks:“What do you have?”Five loaves. Two fish. Not enough on their own—but more than enough when surrendered to Jesus.Maybe God isn’t asking you to have it all together.Maybe He’s asking you to give Him what you have.You are not what you produce. You are not your consistency, your achievements, your leadership, or your spiritual resume.You are loved before you do anything to earn it.And you can be faithful without being flawless.If this conversation resonates with you, send it to a woman who needs the reminder that she doesn’t have to carry the pressure of being perfect.Subscribe to SHE Grows for more honest, Scripture-rooted conversations about following Jesus, growing in faith, and becoming who God has called you to be.#SHEGrows #ChristianWomen #Perfectionism #Grace #ChristianLiving #FaithOverFear #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianPodcastPartner with SHE! Help us continue to spread the message the Lord has for women. Link arms with us and let's see this message go farther! Just choose SHE in the drop-down menu using the link below. Thank you for being so generous! We're in this together! https://cultivatechurch.churchcenter.com/giving Connect with us!INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK YouTubeCULTIVATE CHURCHSHE : Cultivate [email protected] 

Sometimes familiarity feels like faithfulness.We know the routine. We know the songs. We know the Bible stories. We know how we’ve always done things—and before we realize it, we can stop asking a really important question:Is this what God is asking me to do now, or am I just doing what I’ve always done?In this episode of SHE Grows, Jen and Danielle talk about the tension between familiarity, faithfulness, and growth. Because God isn’t calling us to chase something new just for the sake of being new. He’s calling us to stay responsive to Him.We talk about the Israelites wanting to return to Egypt because the Promised Land felt too unfamiliar, the rich young ruler walking away from Jesus when obedience became costly, and Peter letting down his nets even when his experience told him it wouldn’t work.And we go deeper into the danger of spiritual autopilot.You can be familiar with Scripture without being formed by Scripture. You can know the language of faith without actually listening for God’s direction. And when we don’t know the Word for ourselves, we can become vulnerable to believing whatever sounds spiritual.That’s why this conversation ends with a simple challenge: get back in the Word.October 1 marks the beginning of the New Testament in our annual Bible reading plan, so whether you’ve been reading all year or you’ve completely fallen off, this is your invitation to begin again. You don’t have to catch up. You don’t have to wait until January. Just open the Bible and start showing up.Because the goal isn’t to become more familiar with the Bible.The goal is to become more like Jesus.Where has the familiar become your answer before you’ve given God room to lead?Partner with SHE! Help us continue to spread the message the Lord has for women. Link arms with us and let's see this message go farther! Just choose SHE in the drop-down menu using the link below. Thank you for being so generous! We're in this together! https://cultivatechurch.churchcenter.com/giving Connect with us!INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK YouTubeCULTIVATE CHURCHSHE : Cultivate [email protected] 

What if the reason you haven't “found your purpose” isn't because God is keeping it from you?What if you've been asking the wrong question?We often imagine purpose as something God will eventually reveal—a calling, a career, a ministry, a big assignment, or a five-year plan that suddenly makes everything make sense. But what if purpose isn't something you have to find before you can move forward?In this episode of SHE Grows, Jen Matthews takes us through the story of Peter and four lies we can believe about purpose:• Purpose is something I have to find.• God will show me the whole plan before I have to obey.• Purpose is for people more gifted than me.• Purpose is about me.The truth is much simpler—and much more challenging: follow Jesus, take the next step, and trust Him with what you can't see yet.Peter didn't know where his yes would lead. He didn't know he'd preach to thousands, help shape the early church, or leave behind words generations of believers would still read. He just dropped his nets and followed Jesus.And that's often how purpose works.The greatest moments of our lives can be built through the quiet obedience nobody applauds. One yes becomes another yes. One step becomes another step. And eventually, we can look backward and see what God was building all along.You don't have to see the whole path to take the next step.You don't step into purpose. You walk with Jesus, and purpose meets you along the way.If you've been wondering whether you've missed your purpose, whether you're too old, too young, too ordinary, too flawed, or simply too far behind—this conversation is for you.As long as there's breath in your lungs, there is still purpose in your life.Subscribe to SHE Grows for more conversations about following Jesus, growing deep, and living out the life God has called you to.#SHEGrows #Purpose #ChristianWomen #FollowingJesus #Obedience #Faith #ChristianPodcastPartner with SHE! Help us continue to spread the message the Lord has for women. Link arms with us and let's see this message go farther! Just choose SHE in the drop-down menu using the link below. Thank you for being so generous! We're in this together! https://cultivatechurch.churchcenter.com/giving Connect with us!INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK YouTubeCULTIVATE CHURCHSHE : Cultivate [email protected] 

What if we lived our everyday lives with eternity in view?Not just the big, obvious moments, but the ordinary ones. The way we love our families. The way we serve. The way we show up when nobody is watching. The way we steward our time, money, relationships, opportunities, and the things God has placed in our hands.In this message, Danielle challenges us to think beyond what matters right now and consider what carries eternal weight. Scripture tells us that one day we will stand before Jesus, and what we have built with our lives will be revealed.So what are we building that cannot burn?Not because we can earn our salvation. We can't. Salvation is a gift of grace through Jesus. And Jesus isn't simply the prize at the end of the race. Jesus is the prize.But if we're going to live for Him, our lives should reflect what matters to Him.The hidden prayer.The faithful yes.The hard marriage you refuse to abandon.The child you're raising through the mundane.The person you choose to forgive.The opportunity to serve when nobody notices.The simple decision to be fully present with the people God has put in front of you.What feels ordinary to us may carry eternal weight.This conversation is an invitation to lift our eyes, examine what we're building, and ask God to help us see the significance in what He's already entrusted to us.Because one day, we will see the full weight of it.And we want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”SHE Grows is a conversation about growing deeper in our relationship with Jesus, walking out biblical truth, and becoming who God has called us to be.Subscribe to SHE Grows for more conversations, teachings, and honest discussions about faith, discipleship, leadership, and following Jesus in everyday life.Partner with SHE! Help us continue to spread the message the Lord has for women. Link arms with us and let's see this message go farther! Just choose SHE in the drop-down menu using the link below. Thank you for being so generous! We're in this together! https://cultivatechurch.churchcenter.com/giving Connect with us!INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK YouTubeCULTIVATE CHURCHSHE : Cultivate [email protected] 

There’s always more to the conversation.After every SHE gathering, Jen and Danielle grab a cup of coffee and sit down to talk through the message—the things they didn’t have time to say, the questions that kept coming up, the parts that deserve a little more unpacking, and sometimes the things that are easier to say when you’re just sitting around a table with a friend.In this Coffee Talk, we’re going deeper into SHE is Established and what it really means to build a life with Jesus as the cornerstone.Five years of SHE means five years of watching women navigate a world that has changed quickly and dramatically. And if we’re honest, those years have changed us, too. Some of that change has been beautiful. Some of it has been painful. Some of us have grown deeper roots in Jesus, while others have developed ways of coping that were never meant to become permanent.So what does it actually look like to become established in God when everything around you keeps moving?We’re talking about shallow roots, spiritual maturity, unhealthy coping, the things that quietly become our foundation, and why being established isn’t about becoming stagnant—it’s about becoming strong enough to keep growing.Because roots take time.And sometimes you don't realize how deep they've grown until the heat comes.We’re also talking about what comes next. God doesn't establish us just so we can look back and celebrate how far we've come. He establishes us because there is still something ahead of us to build, something in us to grow, and something through us to bear.So grab your coffee and join the conversation.SHE Grows is a ministry of Cultivate Church, hosted by Jen Matthews and Danielle.Partner with SHE! Help us continue to spread the message the Lord has for women. Link arms with us and let's see this message go farther! Just choose SHE in the drop-down menu using the link below. Thank you for being so generous! We're in this together! https://cultivatechurch.churchcenter.com/giving Connect with us!INSTAGRAMFACEBOOK YouTubeCULTIVATE CHURCHSHE : Cultivate [email protected]