Celebrate Every Step with Kristin Kurtz: Choosing Joy Along the Journey

Have you ever considered that joy might be available to you right now—even in the middle of your toughest challenges? This episode dives deep into the powerful truth found in James 1:2, where difficulties are reframed as "invaluable opportunities to experience the greatest joy."

Drawing from personal experience facing "trials of many kinds," I share the transformative concept of celebrating before the celebration. This isn't about toxic positivity or denying reality—it's about making the radical choice to find value in the process rather than postponing joy until everything looks perfect. I challenge you to identify three areas where you can celebrate your progress today, even if you haven't reached your destination yet.

I also explore how modern distractions—particularly social media—can drown out our capacity for joy. I share my own recent experience taking a social media break and the profound difference it's making during a very challenging season. By creating intentional space away from the noise, we can make room for authentic joy to flourish in our hearts. This might look different for everyone, but the principle remains: sometimes we need to turn down the volume on external voices to hear the whispers of joy within.

Ready to experience more joy regardless of your circumstances? I invite you to book a free Unlocking Call - visit newwingscoaching.net to connect and discover how I can come along side you. Remember, joy isn't dependent on what's happening around you—it's a choice you can make today, right where you are.

Chapters

• 0:16 Welcome & Introduction
• 0:52 James 1-2: Joy in Difficulties
• 1:41 Creating Space for Joy
• 3:38 Called and Commissioned Program
• 4:55 Closing Encouragement

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:16

Welcome to the Hope Unlocked podcast. I'm your host, kristen Kurtz, and I'm also the founder of New Wings Coaching. I help and empower wildhearted and adventurous women of faith feeling caged and stuck, unlock their true purpose and potential, break free from limitations and thrive with confidence, courage and hope. If you're curious to learn more about coaching with me, head to newwingscoachingnet and be sure to explore the show notes for ways to connect with me further. Get ready to dive in as we uncover empowering keys and insights in this episode. So tune in and let's unlock hope together. Hey friends, welcome to the Hope Unlocked Tuesday Thoughts podcast episode.

Speaker 1: 0:52

I am Kristen Kurtz, your host, and today I want to deep dive into one of my favorite verses from James 1-2. It's actually been my focus this past month, as I have faced trials of many kinds, so I'm going to read it from the Passion Translation. My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can. At first glance, this might sound a little challenging. Celebrating trials, right, but what if I told you that joy doesn't have to wait for the outcome? What if we could choose joy before the celebration I like to call it celebrate before the celebration and trusting that joy is a choice, even in the middle of the mess. Choosing joy isn't about waiting for things to be perfect. It's about seeing the value in the process. The Bible even calls us to celebrate before the breakthrough, trusting that God is at work, even when we don't see it yet. Can I get an amen? So I want to challenge you today Pick three areas of your life where you can celebrate now, even if the final results haven't come through yet. It could be in your career, your relationships, health, finances, personal growth or you name it. Don't wait for the big moment. Celebrate how far you've come, even in the messy middle.

Speaker 1: 2:21

Here's the thing Life is so full of distractions that can drown out that joy. Social media, comparison, busyness and even our own negative thoughts can make it hard to focus on celebrating our journey. If we're not careful, the noise can overshadow the joy that's already within us. I am actually on a social media break right now, within us. I am actually on a social media break right now.

Speaker 1: 2:48

This past month I have faced trials of many kinds and the Lord led me to take some time to further quiet out the noise by taking time off social media and it has been a joy, let me just say so. To walk in the joy we're called to, we need to actually create space for it. So this week I'm going to encourage you to take a step back and tune out some of that external noise. Limit your time on social media. Set boundaries around things that pull you away from peace and quiet. Maybe it's turning off the news. Maybe it's turning off you know, movies that aren't bringing you joy. Maybe they're, you know, inciting fear in you, because if we're not careful, like I said, the noise can overshadow that joy. So what will you tune out this week? When you tune out the distractions, we can make room for more joy to flourish in our hearts. So remember you don't have to do this alone. Surround yourself with people who support and celebrate your journey. We all need people who will cheer us on, encourage us when we struggle and remind us to choose joy even when it's hard. So if you're feeling like you don't have that support right now, I would love to come alongside you.

Speaker 1: 3:57

In this season. I'm actually releasing a new coaching program called, called, called and commissioned. That's hard to say. Let me say that again it's. It's a new coaching program called Called and Commissioned. That's hard to say. Let me say that again it's a new coaching program called Called and Commissioned, and I just love helping women like you to step into that joy and embrace your purpose, even when you're in the midst of trials, because we can't avoid them. Sometimes we have less, sometimes we have more right, which, like I said, I am in the more at this moment, but I am not giving up and I don't want to see you give up either. So together we can build a foundation of celebration and I would love to support you as you soar in your calling.

Speaker 1: 4:38

If you're ready to choose joy, quiet the distractions and receive personal support in your journey, let's connect. Book a free, unlocking call with me today and together we'll explore how my one-on-one coaching programs can help you celebrate your steps, not just the destination. Head to newwingscoaching, n-e-w-w-i-n-g-s, coaching, c-o-a-c-h-i-n-gnet, and you can click on my calendar and book a call. It's totally free. So thanks for tuning in to today's Hope Unlocked Tuesday thoughts. Remember joy is a choice that you can make today, right where you are. So go ahead, pick one area to celebrate and embrace the process. I can't wait to hear how you're choosing joy and have an amazing week. Keep choosing joy. Bye.