If you haven’t noticed, the world is exhausted. And not in a “long day at work” way but in a deep, soul-level fatigue that makes everything feel like too much. Conversations turn into debates, joy feels like a distant memory, and even church can feel like an ongoing group project where no one’s pulling their weight.
Bob Goff thinks that’s a problem. And if anyone knows how to infuse life with joy, it’s him. The author, speaker and all-around encourager believes we’ve gotten way too serious for our own good.
“Whimsy is not just unicorns and confetti,” Goff says. “It’s a twinkle in your eye. It’s the thing you used to do when you were younger before life got complicated.”
Life has gotten complicated. Personal struggles, fractured faith communities and the weight of a world unraveling can make joy feel like a luxury. Goff sees it differently. Rediscovering joy isn’t just nice. It’s strategic. It transforms not just our own lives but the lives of those around us.
“I just don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there’s a bunch of uptight people out there,” he says. “So many people are scolding each other, waving bony fingers in every direction. It reminds me of hyenas. Alone, they’re timid. Together, they can terrorize anything in their path. Unfortunately, sometimes our faith communities feel a little National Geographic to me.”
His solution? Chill out. Not in an apathetic way, but in a way that intentionally chooses joy over judgment, wonder over worry, love over cynicism.
Losing joy is like losing car keys. “If you lose your joy, you have to ask yourself, ‘Where did I last have it?’” Goff says.
For many of us, joy was something we had but lost in the pressure to be right, the exhaustion of performing, and the fear of being hurt. “If you’ve lost your hope, if you’ve lost your joy, whimsy is calling you back to that childlike faith. Not childish, but childlike.”
It’s a challenge, especially for those wounded by relationships, institutions or even the Church.
“Some people become so wounded, they disengage from faith entirely,” he says. “They make a rule. ‘I’m never going to go deep with people again. I’m never going to trust the Church again.’ But the scaffolding that once protected our fragile hearts ends up imprisoning us.”
How do we reconnect with joy when it feels distant? Goff suggests a few places to start. Find fun friends. The kind of people who remind you life isn’t just a never-ending performance review. Then, get your hands dirty with small, tangible acts of kindness.
“Jesus said, ‘I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,’” Goff says. “So carry around extra granola bars. Keep bottles of water in your car. Find the person sitting alone and ask, ‘What’s it feel like to be you right now?’”
For those who like big moves, Goff offers a wild story. Years ago, he started a school in Uganda with nine kids. Today, there are 1,500 students, and they’re building a university complete with giraffes. Yes, actual giraffes.
“I wanted an animal that wouldn’t bite people and would be hard to lose,” he jokes. But behind the humor is a powerful truth. Joy multiplies when we share it. Whether it’s giraffes or granola bars, choosing to live with joy changes the atmosphere around us.
That’s the kind of faith Goff believes we’re called to. One that doesn’t major in theological takedowns but instead invites people into something better.
“We don’t need more people vetting everyone’s beliefs,” he says. “Jesus didn’t do that. He just said, ‘I’ll see you in paradise.’”
What would happen if we stopped acting like bouncers guarding the gates of faith and started acting like ushers welcoming people in? What if the Church became known less for scolding and more for hot chocolate and kindness?
“We need to be people of integrity, people who remind others of who they are,” Goff says. “Not by telling them what to believe, but by showing them love.”
That’s the real secret of joy. It’s not just something we find. It’s something we give away. The more we embrace it, the more it spills over onto everyone around us.
“Jesus said we’re the aroma of Christ,” Goff says. “So let’s make sure it smells more like love and less like judgment.”
Maybe the best way to rediscover joy is to start spreading it.
