Joy Bomb: A 8-Day Devotional by Tauren Wellsಮಾದರಿ

Day 3

Joy Bombs: What Are You Focusing On?

Let’s be real—no one makes it through life without getting hit by sorrow at some point. Even though we serve a good and faithful God, the Bible never promises us a life free from pain. Life is this crazy mix of highs and lows, of breathtaking wonder and deep wounds. But here’s the thing: what we choose to focus on shapes our entire experience. Are we going to fix our eyes on the wonder or get stuck staring at the wounds?

When we choose well, we set off what I like to call a joy bomb—those unexpected, powerful moments of joy that explode into our lives and remind us that God is present. Maybe it’s in a stunning sunset, a child’s laughter, a song that hits just right, or a deep moment of peace that makes no sense given your circumstances. These moments don’t erase our pain, but they do remind us that joy is real and available—even in the middle of hardship.

But here’s the catch: if we focus too much on the wounds, we’ll start seeing joy as temporary, fleeting, even insignificant. The reality, though, is that joy has staying power—if we choose to embrace it. Even in hard seasons, choosing to hold onto moments of joy gives us strength and hope to keep moving forward.

Take Thomas, for example. In John 20:24–29, he had the chance to witness something absolutely mind-blowing—Jesus, fully alive and standing in front of him after the crucifixion. Jesus even walked through a wall! And yet, what did Thomas focus on? The wounds. He needed proof, something to touch and feel before he could believe. He glanced at the miracle but fixated on the pain.

Sound familiar? It’s so easy to do the same thing. We get so wrapped up in what’s wrong that we miss what’s right. We let our struggles, doubts, and disappointments steal our focus instead of being in awe of what God is doing. Thomas had the opportunity to be amazed by the presence of Jesus, to be captivated by the fact that the Savior of the world was standing before him, alive and victorious. But instead, he needed to feel the scars first.

This is a reminder that our perspective matters. If we let our emotions define our reality, we risk losing sight of the bigger truth: that God is still working, still showing up, and still filling our lives with moments of wonder. The pain is real, but so is the joy. And when we choose to shift our focus, joy becomes more than just a brief explosion—it becomes part of how we see the world.

Devotional Questions:

1. Do you find yourself staring at the wounds in your life more than the wonder? Why do you think that is?
2. What “joy bombs” has God placed in your life recently? Have you taken the time to recognize and appreciate them?
3. When have you experienced a moment of joy in the middle of a hard season? How did that shape your perspective?
4. Thomas needed to see and touch Jesus’ wounds before he could fully believe—what kind of "proof" do you find yourself asking for in your faith?
5. What’s one practical way you can shift your focus toward joy this week, even in the midst of difficulty?

Life is never just one thing—it’s joy and sorrow, beauty and brokenness. But the good news? You get to choose what you stare at. Choose the wonder. 💛✨