Basketball is a looooong season. The schedule feels relentless, and exhaustion sets in. But something cool happened at their last game. Even though they lost, they had the most fun they’ve had all season. And because they were having fun, they played their best game yet.

It made me wonder—how often do we miss out on joy because we’re too focused on getting it right?

We do this in so many areas of life. We chase after goals, believing that success, recognition, or achievement will bring fulfillment. We work hard to get the promotion, complete the project, or check the next thing off our list. But in our relentless pursuit of the outcome, we forget to enjoy the process.

Think about it—kids don’t play outside to improve their cardiovascular health. They run, jump, and laugh because it’s fun. Musicians don’t pick up an instrument just to master it; they play because they love the sound, the feel, the experience of making music. And yet, as adults, we so often shift our focus from enjoying to achieving. We strive, measure, and evaluate, and in doing so, we lose the very thing that made it meaningful in the first place.

When we think about faith, we often approach it the same way—like a to-do list. Pray more. Read more. Serve more. Do better. And while those things matter, they aren’t what bring us joy.

Joy comes when we stop trying so hard and simply enjoy being with God. It comes in the stillness of a moment, the beauty of nature, the kindness of a friend, or the laughter shared with someone we love. It sneaks up on us when we let go of striving and rest in the presence of the divine.

What if faith wasn’t something to achieve but something to delight in?

What if the best way to grow spiritually wasn’t to push harder, but to lean into joy—to pay attention to the simple, everyday moments where God is already present? The moments when you breathe deeply and feel the sun on your face. When you hear a child’s laughter, or sing along to your favorite song. When you take a deep breath and know, even for a moment, that you are held in love.

My wish for you this week, Reader, is to notice those moments. Look for joy, not as a reward for getting everything right, but as a sign that God is already with you. That's the fiLLLed life.

Live a fiLLLed life, Melissa ​