Hope Mangiafico (00:00)
Hi, I'm Hope.
Nikki Humphrey (00:02)
Hi, I'm Nikki. Welcome to Equip Fellowship, where friends become family through Christ. We're two Jesus loving friends on mission to share personal stories, resources, and real talk about our triumphs, breakthroughs, struggles, and setbacks. Why? Because we believe you are called to live victoriously, and we are here to equip you with Holy Spirit led tools,
resources and strategies to strengthen your faith, transform your mindset and walk boldly in God's promises. Cause here's the truth, you have been given great and precious promises by God. So grab your coffee, lean in and let's grow together. It's time to step into everything God has for you.
Hope Mangiafico (00:58)
I don't know if ever get tired of that intro.
Nikki Humphrey (00:59)
Woo!
It's so good.
It's so good.
Hope Mangiafico (01:08)
⁓ man, it's so great. Mmm. Man.
Nikki Humphrey (01:12)
And today we're diving into a topic that we started last week, but we wanted to dive deeper into and really give you those Holy Spirit led tools, resources and strategies to tap into today's topic yourself. So we're diving into something that often gets misunderstood. Joy. If you've ever thought,
Joy means jumping around, being bubbly, or putting on a fake smile. You're not alone. I used to think that way a lot. But biblical joy, it's deeper, quieter, and stronger. It's the comfort and confidence of knowing who God is and who he made you to be. In last week's episode,
Hope Mangiafico (01:48)
Thanks
Yes.
Nikki Humphrey (02:09)
I define joy as an illuminating essence of the Holy Spirit pouring out of me to be a blessing to others. So it's that essence imparting upon us, that biblical truth of who God says we are. And when he pours it on us, we can be an outpouring of joy to others.
Hope Mangiafico (02:37)
Absolutely. I'm... It's so interesting that, you know, the Lord gave you this as like a topic for this week and I love how it feeds from last week and it really caused me to like sit down and be like, Lord, one, am I still defining joy as that bubbly outward thing? Like what is, I don't know, maybe we'll cross this line today or talk about it of like...
What is it to be authentic to your reality and still tapping into that joy? Because even by asking that question, I'm like, this means if I'm asking this question, I am potentially still not understanding how deep joy actually is. Does that make sense?
Nikki Humphrey (03:23)
It makes perfect sense. It makes, and I made a note about what joy is and isn't to maybe change our mindset of how we think about it right from the get go. So I said, joy is not always loud. Joy is not always hype. And joy is not the same as happiness. And we talked briefly about that in our last episode.
Hope Mangiafico (03:31)
Ooh, good.
Mmm... Mmm...
Nikki Humphrey (03:52)
And Hope said last time, happiness depends on what's happening around you, but joy depends who you're rooted in.
Biblical joy is the deep assurance that God is who he says he is and that you are safe in his love, even when circumstances are hard. Joy is a quiet confidence, an inner stillness. It's that deep exhale when you remember, am held, I am known, I am chosen.
Hope Mangiafico (04:32)
I love that you, yeah, you defined what it is and is not because as you were speaking, it's like that was part of my hang up for so long and even I have moments of it, still expecting it to be something else. And you talk about its quietness and it's funny because I've just been chatting with the Lord, moving and grooving and it's like, he, for me,
He said, again, for me personally on the journey, for me joy does look like peace. Even though they're two different things, two different attributes, for me they're so closely related.
And I love that you mentioned quietness and we had a joke beforehand right before recording of Joy is so quiet that we have a hard time hearing it. But I mean, that's the truth because you talked about Nikki as a definition. It's so deep within you that everything else will be la-
Nikki Humphrey (05:33)
Yes. And yesterday I was telling Hope when this was on my heart to talk about joy. I had the song, I have that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. And that's what we're talking about.
Hope Mangiafico (05:48)
Yeah.
Nikki Humphrey (05:50)
It's in there. It's reliant on God and believing and have faith in Him and trusting Him. It's the security of your identity in Christ. Joy is not the celebration of the outcome of something happening.
Hope Mangiafico (06:04)
Eww,
Yes.
Yes. And I like what you just said too. Again, ⁓ I'm just gonna keep basically repeating things that you say, because they're so good. It's your reliance on him. And that, just even you saying that, I quickly reflect back ⁓ of recent events and it's like, okay God, so are you saying that when I did feel overwhelmed and facing hard realities, when I paused and kept turning back to you?
was still tapping into that joy? Is that what you're saying, Lord?" And I feel him being like, yes. Because again, we quoted this scripture last time, the joy of the Lord is my strength. So boom, turn to him, you get stronger and you're automatically tapping into joy. I am so guilty as of 10 minutes ago of defining joy wrong.
Nikki Humphrey (06:44)
Yes.
Hope Mangiafico (06:59)
And if you start with the wrong definition of anything, you'll never tap into the reality of the truth of what it really is and then you can't sit in it.
Nikki Humphrey (07:08)
Yeah, you'll always think you're missing it, but it's right here.
Hope Mangiafico (07:11)
Eww! Eww!
Oh, I've carried a disease of thinking I have mis-thinked so many times in different areas and then it carried into joy. Oh, Nikki, you're fired today. I'm hungry and I really need it.
Nikki Humphrey (07:28)
And when you said. ⁓
What you said last week and this week, the joy is the Lord of your strength. That's Nehemiah 8.10. And I wrote a note. This verse was spoken to people rebuilding ruins. They were tired, overwhelmed, and still joy was their strength. Why? Because their joy wasn't based on progress. It was based on God's presence.
Hope Mangiafico (07:55)
Wow. Wow.
Man, you know, so here's a question for you and I and just to maybe discuss. I can talk about joy and I understand him being a source of joy, but teaching it and speaking it is different than living it out, right? And so you talk about that and Nehemiah and what they were dealing with and how they were able to write that the joy of the Lord is my strength.
How do you, in everyday life, I mean, we've talked about it, but I'm just like, wrestling a little bit, I guess, of like...
really keeping your eyes on it and practicing it instead of know quote-unquote preaching it because I mean basically we're telling on me because I said that last week which is true ⁓ but I catch myself I guess that's part of it is catching yourself in the act of turning in the wrong direction to the wrong definition maybe that's maybe that's part of it is catching yourself
I guess coming from a perspective of you and I having the conversation and I find myself often being able to, and we all can say this as people, being able to, you know, talk the talk and not walk the walk. That's right.
Nikki Humphrey (09:18)
Yes.
So as you are saying, it's catching yourself and also recognizing it when it feels unrecognizable. Cause we said before we started recording, it's that quiet, right? Like it's hard to hear. But have you hope ever been in a situation where like things seem hopeless and you're all, everything's kind of spiraling, but once you sit with it and tap into the Lord, all of a sudden you feel this unexpected.
but you don't feel peace about the situation, but you feel peace inside of you.
Hope Mangiafico (09:56)
Which is exactly what I said he was telling me right before the episode when I was chatting with the Lord of like, for me the peace and the joy are interlinked and maybe I'm not alone in that boat but it helped start the redefining for me. So absolutely, and you're right because the situation doesn't change. So it's not happiness because the happenings are still happening.
Nikki Humphrey (10:08)
Yes.
Yeah, you're not like woo!
Hope Mangiafico (10:19)
Yeah, dude, I just can't believe through this I see in my mind's eye the image that I have carried around for so long of what it is despite knowing the truth of what it is.
Nikki Humphrey (10:34)
Yes. Yes.
Hope Mangiafico (10:35)
It's like,
Lord, wipe, wipe it clean. I've been, it's like, it's like, ⁓ my gosh, what is that? Like having one foot in, one foot out kind of thing, but you're having like two conflicting feelings and so you don't know what to do.
Nikki Humphrey (10:53)
because
It doesn't say when you accomplish something, when you do X, Y, Z, when somebody gives you an accolade, when you feel love from another person. No, it's none of that, but it's in God's presence there is fullness of joy.
Hope Mangiafico (11:37)
So, and what's cool about that is that means we can have it all the time as we keep tapping into it like you were saying and redefining because this kind of leads into what he did give me when I was journaling. He's the creator of all things. So his presence is everywhere. There's multiple scriptures about talking about how all creation reveals who he is, right? And so I guess as you're speaking something to...
remind listeners about too and myself clearly, ⁓ is it is possible to live a life full of joy, continual joy, because he is creator.
And he's, that's his presence, it's everywhere.
Nikki Humphrey (12:25)
And if you would have told me 15 years that I would have any joy in my life, be able to tap into joy, to access joy, I would have been like, you crazy, you are crazy. I thought my joy was broken. Like there's no way that I could ever access, tap into, be a joy filled person. But also at that time I was blocking God.
Hope Mangiafico (12:36)
See you, everyone.
Right.
Nikki Humphrey (12:52)
So if you're blocking God and his presence in your life, he's not gonna let you access it.
Hope Mangiafico (12:58)
you won't be responsible for it either.
Okay, so this still goes to, I guess I'm not, I keep revisiting this same question, but I'm asking it differently every time. So what would you say, Nikki, from your experience of facing the reality of what you have? So let's say it's pain, right? You've got physical pain. And you, like, it's a struggle. What does that look like to face the reality and be honest and authentic? Because we're not trying to put on a mask, right? A smile like you talked about.
How do you live in that and go about your everyday? Just, how do you do that?
Nikki Humphrey (13:37)
That's when you talk with your father. We talked so much about in our previous episodes about how to talk to God, how to hear from God, how to put on your armor. God wants you to come. I will sit in this chair and just pour out everything that's been going on. Like all of you listening and watching have known these past month or so has been really hard for a hope and I, but I will sit in this chair and let it rip. Tater chip.
Hope Mangiafico (14:06)
I was gonna finish with that!
Nikki Humphrey (14:10)
I don't but I did that's what God wants you to do to process it with him and through that outpouring It's like that exchange we've talked about one of our early episodes one of those holy exchanges we are raw and authentic and truthful and Come to the Father He does this holy exchange for like broken to goodness, you know beauty for ashes and
That's when I start to feel and that's why I don't understand everything that's going on because it's that holy exchange. But through my outpouring, I feel that sense of calm, that peace, that inner stirring, that illuminating essence I talked about in the last episode.
Hope Mangiafico (14:43)
Mmm.
So here's the follow-
Nikki Humphrey (14:57)
From that
place of calm because I think we talked about last week or the week before when you're in that chaos your thoughts are irrational But if God can get you into that quiet joy-filled space You're more open to hearing God speak to you his presence what's your next right step on God's path and not on your earthly chaotic path
Hope Mangiafico (15:04)
Yeah, yeah.
So follow-up question. Clearly these are all from personal experience. ⁓ Love that. Love the holy exchange. So let's say I'm in my little Jesus corner. I've done that because I absolutely do do that a lot. But I do find as being human, one of my greatest struggles is when I go out to the world and someone's like, how are you? I have that joy, but there is a reality that is making it
Nikki Humphrey (15:29)
Hmm.
Hmm.
Hope Mangiafico (15:56)
difficult and so this is a personal thing but I don't love being like the joy of the lord is my strength things are great right because there's that fakeness of what is joy so how do you how do you go out in the real world facing and dealing with all these things and people are asking you how are you and you have peace with the lord but you don't want to lie because life is not easy how do do that
Nikki Humphrey (16:21)
right.
Hope Mangiafico (16:23)
I'm really putting you on the spot because I really, I, and you might can relate to this Nikki and I assume some listeners can, I don't like being inauthentic and I also don't want to feel like I have a history of complaining all the time because that is the last thing I want to do. However, to your point about how hard things have been, I don't know what to say.
Nikki Humphrey (16:35)
Hmm?
Right. Well, I think remember when I had the conversation with the woman, Erin, at my school who I worked with. And she said that, Nikki, I really like the podcast that you and Hope do because the Nikki in person who I know is the same Nikki on the podcast. With certain people, you can just tell the God's honest truth and let it rip. Both.
Hope Mangiafico (16:57)
Yeah.
you.
Nikki Humphrey (17:17)
Erin and I in different parts of our exchanges have been radically honest about where we're at, but we are talking about the tools that we're using, like I'm spending time with God, I'm reading this, I'm reflecting on this, it's really hard, but I know God's got me. When you see another sister in Christ or brother in Christ who you can connect to on that authentic
Hope Mangiafico (17:34)
Mm-hmm.
Nikki Humphrey (17:43)
level and they'll have some kind of understanding about what you're talking about, you can be radically honest with them about where you're at, how you're struggling. I think where the difficulty comes in where somebody doesn't really know you and there's not that relationship with, but I think you and I have done before, you don't want to
Hope Mangiafico (17:58)
No, exactly, Yeah.
Nikki Humphrey (18:08)
verbally vomit on those people because they don't really know you, they don't know your heart, they don't know your walk with Christ, and you don't really know where they're at. And so that's where some surface level stuff will just bubble in. You know, not that you're lying, but you don't have that relationship with them to give them all that information because not everybody is privy to everything that's going on in your life.
Hope Mangiafico (18:24)
Yeah.
Correct. Yeah, and I guess as you're speaking what's coming to me and I mean is You have to mmm You have to really sit through like if you do find to your point Nikki that we used to do that all the time if you're still finding that you're Desiring to spit it out there on any everyone you have to go back to the father me like what am I looking for? What fulfillment am I looking for by?
trying to tell everyone my issues of what's going on. Yeah.
Nikki Humphrey (19:07)
Hmm?
It's an onion going back to one of our first, with some people you can't go right to the center. You have to build that relationship. You have to build that trust, that bond, that mutual understanding of one another.
Hope Mangiafico (19:14)
What is that?
yet.
right and slowly put some walls down too if you don't have someone at least a person in your life ⁓ yeah it was a true like authentic question about myself because yeah go ahead
Nikki Humphrey (19:38)
But
on the other hand, like I am pretty honest with people. Like I do sometimes say like, it's been a hard week, but you know, I'm looking forward to things turning around.
Hope Mangiafico (19:51)
Yeah. So that reminds me.
Nikki Humphrey (19:53)
You know, they don't need
all the nitty gritty. And that's why I'm talking about like being more surface level. Like you can let the person know that you've been struggling, but you're working on it and you hope that the ending comes soon, you know, without being like, pull up a chair sister.
Hope Mangiafico (20:09)
So that does remind me, this is a really very good conversation to have that back in like 2020 maybe, I had a download from the Lord and it's very evident I have not been tapping into that very often because I had this same question I asked the father way back then when things were still challenging, right? And he did, and I don't know, maybe this is an encouragement for the listeners.
have a go-to saying that you have. If you're in a hard season, like what is it? And as you were speaking, my saying came back to mind where I would say, you know, it's been a hard week, a hard season, but I know it can only go up from here because that's rooted in the truth of who God's character is. And so it's almost for me very beneficial. So I'm going to tap back into this. It's on my tube, but I just haven't used it. ⁓
pull out that tool of, man, quick response that is rooted in truth, but it's not a lie. Because I hate small talk. I don't do well with it. I've tried. It pains me. But I can do a one-sentence truth from God that doesn't make me sound like I'm being inauthentic either way. So maybe everyone should come up with that if they're feeling a need of what do I do in a hard season is have a go to
Nikki Humphrey (21:09)
Mm-hmm.
Bright, yes.
Hope Mangiafico (21:34)
sentence that you say that also kind of reminds you of the truth too in those moments.
We're speaking on areas of my weakness clearly. It's doing it so quiet that it is just so hard to hear and the enemy is like a roaring lion. And so that means you hear him everywhere. He goes in different areas and situations. And though roaring lions are that silly because that means they're not sneaky. We have to be ready to shut that down. And in...
I find, here's another question Nikki, or thought, I am most vulnerable when I'm being challenged, right? ⁓ Or having a hard time so that I become an easier target to not tap into that inner deep inner joy.
Nikki Humphrey (22:28)
Right. briefly, last week we talked about...
tapping into gratitude.
Hope Mangiafico (22:36)
Right, yes.
Nikki Humphrey (22:38)
and being grateful about those big and little things in your life. Not like the woo-woo gratitude, but just those simple things that God places in your heart and that remembrance, we talked about a couple episodes ago, of the things that we've already made it through, the things that God has already taken us through, the things we ask for healing that we have been healed from.
Hope Mangiafico (23:04)
Yeah.
Nikki Humphrey (23:06)
And that reminder of our gratitude and our joy. Last time we talked about you can't be a victim or you can't be in a bad mood while tapping into joy or gratitude at the same time. They can't coexist in the same space. So when you're feeling that negativity, drop that and tap into your inner joy or gratitude that's around you.
Hope Mangiafico (23:21)
Yeah, so you just had...
Which is funny you mention gratitude again because this popped up and it was like two days ago or something and I thought it was a cool little one-liner. ⁓ I can shout this personality even though most people probably don't know who it is but it's Audrey McLeod and she just posted this and it says, is not joy that makes us grateful, it is gratitude that makes us joyful. And ⁓ I screenshotted it because one, I knew our conversation but two, I think
Nikki Humphrey (23:55)
Mm-hmm.
Hope Mangiafico (24:04)
through my life and when I do have a really good day because so many days have been hard, I go to that place of having a good day being what makes me grateful. And right, and it's very obvious I'm telling on myself fully on this episode just because life is hard and we all have
Nikki Humphrey (24:18)
Yes, it makes you feel joy.
Hope Mangiafico (24:32)
hard life to some degree, it's defined differently for everyone, so it's no comparison. ⁓ But by Nikki saying, hey, I think this is what we should talk about on the podcast, it really opened the door to God moving in my heart of redefining joy, showing me, highlighting something like this where it's like, hey Hope, days aren't always easy for you. You do a good job tapping into me. You do often, I do sit a lot.
But that's not the reality of life. You can't do that forever. So I gotta get out of that. So how do I get out of that? And that's where I ask the question. If I go out into the wild, wild west, out in the world where I'm not all isolated in my Jesus corner, what do I do with people because I still don't feel strong? So, and he's helping me through you, Nikki, and through my quiet time with him of saying, you've had it defined incorrectly. Let's fix that.
Nikki Humphrey (25:05)
Hmm?
Hope Mangiafico (25:29)
This conversation today has opened the door and given God permission I didn't know I needed to give him to be that joy in my life. This is super vulnerable. I'm pretty uncomfortable, but I hope it's relatable.
Nikki Humphrey (25:48)
I mean, it's helping me when you wouldn't, either Hope or I are vulnerable for each other. Like it helps us grow so much. So I'm learning so much for you from you today, Hope. And I think people listening and watching, I know that this is making an impact on them. And as you were talking, when we were talking about gratitude, I just want to backtrack and make an addendum to that.
When I pray now, I am grateful for the things that God hasn't brought full healing from or a full resolution for. I just pour my heart out to Him for those situations that haven't come to pass yet, but I am grateful because I stand in the truth that He will.
have healed those areas, have those relationships mended. so praying in that attitude of gratitude, even though you haven't seen the fruit yet, that's what I'm talking about. Not like last week where we said, like worldly gratitude, it's like, I'm grateful for my house, my clothes, my, like we all, that's great, I mean. And those things are from God too. But I'm talking about that Holy Spirit led gratitude.
Hope Mangiafico (27:02)
Yeah, right.
Okay, I'm gonna be honest about one other thing and this is something God and I have talked through a lot, but I feel like it's something listeners can also relate to is what to do with the fear of things not changing. ⁓ So, and I say that because I know that it's separate from joy, like you literally just answered that, but as I'm sitting here and I'm thinking one reason I have
created, I believe, as God's guiding me through this whole conversation, a block to authentic joy tapping into it is that the letting fear speak louder than the truth that it can change. You know, when you have a long season of yuck or darkness or whatever, there becomes a fear that this, even if it's not the truth, and you know it's not the truth, but there is the fear of
Can this ever change? Will this ever change?
Nikki Humphrey (28:14)
Yes, that I lived in that space for over 25 years. I was always gonna be depressed. I was always gonna hate myself. was never gonna find joy. was never gonna find a partner never never never ever ever ever that was my whole thought process. But then remember we had that episode when I was like, what if what if things could change just that question dropped into my heart. What if I tapped into God what if
and know that these things take time and tapping into God and His Word and what He says about us and how He created us, it starts to cancel out those fears one by one. Like we've said in the past, sometimes it's a spontaneous miracle and that's great. I'm usually not the one who gets the spontaneous miracle. It takes me layer by layer, step by step.
keeping faith, know, stumbling backwards, moving forward, being stuck sometimes, but just having that faith that God's going to move me forward into this next phase that he has for me. And every phase that God puts me through isn't always great, but I always learn something from it that's going to carry me through the next hard season in my life.
Hope Mangiafico (29:43)
Well, I was thinking as you were saying all of that about how it's not a spontaneous miracle, it's always layer by layer. And I do find there's this beauty in that. And I mean, sometimes I'm like this with God, know, really like kind of wrestling with him about that because it's like, man, Lord, everything is so difficult and painful. But then I am reminded of how many more people then can be helped by what I learn. Right. And I have noticed that both the theme in your life and my life that we're able to take
almost every event of our life and be able to help somebody else. And that is God's intent. And this everything you just said and it's God's great. I love him so much. I wrote this morning down in our like yearly reading the Bible thing. One of the questions on reflecting was take a moment to meditate on what it means to be human.
And a couple months ago, God had me repent for disliking that I was human. ⁓ Because I hated the limitations that humanity had. And that's, is again, super vulnerable episode for me, but this comes back full circle with what you just shared. Because I said, what makes us human?
is that we have none of the omnis, right? The omnipresence, the omni, like all knowing. We don't have all the alls, right? To make it easy, because I always forget what all the omnis are. All I know is it means he has all of all of all, can see all, know all, be all, and we don't have that. And it's this beautiful thing and a beautiful limitation because it allows us to ride the waves with God. And through that we change, we grow, and we heal all parts of us.
then God can use the parts that make us human for his glory. And I'm learning, I mean this was just this morning I wrote this, so it's very fresh revelation for me that it's a beautiful thing that we don't know all the things. To your point, Nikki, of what you were just sharing personally, like
Nikki Humphrey (31:34)
Yes.
Hope Mangiafico (31:53)
We don't know, but you can say the what-ifs because he knows all. He is all. So we can confidently do the positive what-ifs because he's not limited as a human is and it's a beautiful desperate dependence on him. And ⁓ I don't know if you want to add something that then leads kind of to what God literally gave me.
Nikki Humphrey (31:59)
Hmm.
Yes.
Hope Mangiafico (32:22)
an hour before we met today. So is there something before I add this if you wanted to comment on anything?
Nikki Humphrey (32:30)
No, I want you to go into that next thing. I think that's a good segue.
Hope Mangiafico (32:32)
Okay.
Okay. So this is literally how I journal with the Lord. So this is me writing to God. Disclaimer. ⁓
And even still, you are mindful of me. This immediately shows me that I'm not beyond your help. You are near through the Holy Spirit because of Jesus, and I can rejoice because you see me." There goes back to the Omnis again. Even more joy-filled fact is that you made me. And yet even more of a joy-filled fact is it is your joy that I'm here on the earth still seeking you. And that joy that's in you
because of me as your creation gives me the strength to be joyful. I hear you say in the most loving, tender voice, I am not done little one, rejoice.
Nikki Humphrey (33:43)
I love that. And I wrote down the scripture, John 15, 11. Jesus said, I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. It's Jesus's own joy filling you just like you talked about. That means it's unshakable because he is unshakable.
Hope Mangiafico (34:08)
that taps into the last episode too where we talked about God's will and in this episode 10 that we talked about that and rejoicing was one of them and again it goes back to the joy of the Lord is my strength. He literally tells you part of his will is the joy that he provides.
Nikki Humphrey (34:22)
Yeah.
Yes.
And it's a fruit of the Spirit. In Galatians 5.22, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, and it goes on. Joy is fruit. It grows as you walk with the Spirit. It's not something you turn on. It's something God develops in you over time.
Hope Mangiafico (34:33)
Right? ⁓
And that is the truth. That is the truth.
man.
Yeah, and I'm clearly walking that out right now.
Nikki Humphrey (35:05)
And who knew like when I started digging this yesterday, joy is all over the Bible.
Hope Mangiafico (35:11)
I did look that up. It's like almost, I can't say equal, but it's a ton in the Old Testament and the New Testament. I saw that too.
And on top of that.
To your point about Nehemiah, what you mentioned earlier, it wasn't in these elaborate things. It was often an invitation to be joyful in the midst or something, but it wasn't. If you go study all the circumstances, which I have not done, it would be interesting to see what you would find when joy is being referenced, right? Like context, just like you gave the context of Nehemiah.
Nikki Humphrey (35:49)
We talked about the scripture before Romans 12 to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Joy gets choked out by the lie that I'm enough. God's forgotten me. Replace those truth. If you have those continually negative loops in your head that it's going on, replace them with the truth that I am God's masterpiece. Ephesians 2 10. He will never leave me. Hebrews 13 5.
Hope Mangiafico (36:19)
It's so good. I am God's masterpiece, which complements what he told, like, what I was journaling with him today. It was his joy creating me. His joy brings him, or, excuse me, creation brings him joy. And I am part of that creation.
Nikki Humphrey (36:29)
That's right.
Yes.
Hope Mangiafico (36:39)
And that, I hope that makes my eyes water thinking about that again, because we look out, I have a massive window here. So when I'm thinking, I often look out to the window. And I mean, I see so many trees, right? And I see the skies are like cotton balls right now. ⁓ And he made all of that.
Nikki Humphrey (36:58)
Mm-hmm.
Hope Mangiafico (37:00)
And yet I bring him so much joy. Not because of what I do. And I'm still learning that, I'll be honest. I really struggle with that one. Or doing more works for the Lord or whatever. I see all these grandiose things and he's like, nah, but I want you and your humanity and that brokenness and that place where you need me more than... Like all of nature, the birds need him, but they...
don't have the knowing that we have of him. To them, like the birds, like the food just comes, right? The grass just, the flowers just bloom, right? For the bumblebees, right? Getting the nectar, all of that, just happens. But he made us different to be able to recognize the source.
Nikki Humphrey (37:50)
Yeah. And as you were talking, I had this vision, just a freight train vision of you, Hope. And it was like different times in your life. And God was saying, look at you. Like when you were a little baby, like God held you in his arms and he's like, look at you. And you know, when you were.
Hope Mangiafico (38:13)
Mm.
Nikki Humphrey (38:17)
⁓ a toddler and you're running towards him and he picks you up and falls. He's like, look at you. And then when you're in your Jesus chair and you're broken, he's like, look at you. Like he is connected with you. He feels that joy for you no matter what instance, what circumstance, no matter what you're going through.
Hope Mangiafico (38:23)
you
Nikki Humphrey (38:44)
It's that joy, it's that connection, it's like, look at you. Like you are so special, you are so precious. I made you out of my love, out of my care, out of my adoration for you. Look at you, look at all of you, look at all that you've done. And he's got the book, and he's like, look at all you will do.
Hope Mangiafico (39:12)
Yes.
Thank you for sharing that. ⁓ And as you said that, I got an image of Jesus being in every birthing room.
Nikki Humphrey (39:27)
Yeah.
Hope Mangiafico (39:30)
in the corner just overjoyed every birthing room which that carries a lot of weight because many people are born in not ideal situations and even so as you said he's got the book he knows what the future holds he knows what that individual is gonna do and he does know when it's gonna be hard but he has the faith
Nikki Humphrey (39:31)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Hope Mangiafico (39:58)
to believe in you that you're going to choose his path.
Nikki Humphrey (40:02)
That's right.
Hope Mangiafico (40:05)
And there it goes again. He's the source. Man. Thank you for sharing that. Yeah, this is a... This is a hard one for me. ⁓ People call me very joyful and if you give me enough time to talk about God, that's why this podcast selfishly feeds me so much. Because as long as I'm talking about him, I'll talk about the gratitude and everything can't coexist. All of those things disappear.
Nikki Humphrey (40:07)
Yeah.
Hope Mangiafico (40:33)
You know, Nikki, you and I both have recorded either in pain or whatever it may be with things going on, not feeling well, but we get on here and it tones down.
Nikki Humphrey (40:36)
Thank
Hope Mangiafico (40:43)
and it blesses me so much. And he's like, Hope, while you and Nikki are talking, while people are listening, that holy exchange, Nikki, you were talking about is happening.
Nikki Humphrey (40:55)
Yes. ⁓
Hope Mangiafico (40:57)
So going back towards the beginning where I asked 45,000 questions, but I think the first question I asked ⁓ about kind of like catching yourself, just pause, speak out loud about his character, seeing things we've talked about before, but catch it. Speak gratitude.
Nikki Humphrey (41:13)
Mm-hmm.
Hope Mangiafico (41:22)
But let that, or spit out a scripture you know, whatever it may be, and start that holy exchange. It'll start instantly.
That's why our podcast exists.
Mm, wow.
Oof.
Nikki Humphrey (41:35)
So good.
Hope Mangiafico (41:37)
And I will, I did want to add one other thing to what I shared earlier. ⁓ On episode seven, so it's been a little while, ⁓ I quoted from our journal, the She Believes journal, that all of nature is the voice of God saying, I made this for you. When you feel the wind, it's my spirit kissing yours. When you step into the rain, it's my love refreshing your soul. Though God made all of creation for his glory,
Nikki Humphrey (41:42)
Yeah.
Hope Mangiafico (42:06)
He uses it all to bring me a lasting sense of peace and well-being deep within me. And that is the definition of joy. This is how I shift from living a life that's full of fleeting moments, of the emotion of happiness that's triggered by external events, and to unearth the goal in mind that's within me from him.
That wraps up very well to what you were saying, Nikki, about it being a process.
Nikki Humphrey (42:34)
Yeah.
Hope Mangiafico (42:34)
everything you said. So God was telling me all these things before we even recorded this and it's exactly all the things you shared.
Nikki Humphrey (42:41)
Thank
I love him so much
Hope Mangiafico (42:48)
I have
no words. Yeah, no words for him. I just really don't. He's so good. You got anything else?
Nikki Humphrey (43:00)
I had a bottom line. I don't know if I've said that before, but I'm just summarizing what we talked about today. Here's the bottom line. You don't have to earn joy. You just have to remember who you are. Joy flows when you are confident in who God is and who he created you to be. You are his daughter. You are fully known and fully loved. You are called
Hope Mangiafico (43:02)
Ooh. No.
Nikki Humphrey (43:31)
and equipped.
That quiet joy, it's the fruit of walking confidently in your identity. You don't have to be loud to be joyful. You just have to be rooted in Him.
Hope Mangiafico (43:44)
Mm.
You know what I'm gonna say? It's that simple.
Nikki Humphrey (43:46)
Thank
Hope Mangiafico (43:49)
It's that simple. Just be rooted in him. Let him take...
Nikki Humphrey (43:54)
And it will come,
I promise you, if you stay rooted in God and His word, it will come. I'm a living, walking, breathing testimony of that in my life. The Nikki you see now is not the Nikki of 15 years ago.
Hope Mangiafico (44:13)
Just let him in with the what ifs. Man, this has blessed me abundantly.
So I just would like to then in wrapping up, pray ⁓ Psalm 40, 16 through 17 over everyone. And again, God's so cool that this just crossed my path this morning listening to a devotion and it was so timely. So I just want to speak over every person listening, including Nikki and myself, that may all who seek you, God, rejoice and be glad in you, Lord.
May those who love your salvation say continually, great is the Lord. And as for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer. Do not delay. ⁓ my God. Father, thank you for each person that is listening. May they all have rejoice and be glad in you as they seek you, just like we just said, that as they let you in.
May they fall in love with your salvation, with your deliverance that you gave us through Christ. And may they be able to declare, just like Nikki and I, towards the end of this saying, great are you Lord. May they say, man, you're so incredible Father. And we are poor and needy. We are human. And we're so glad for that. We're so grateful for our limitations. And I never in a million years would thought I would ever be grateful for that. God, thank you for changing my heart on that perspective.
Nikki Humphrey (45:48)
Thank you.
Hope Mangiafico (45:51)
But, through that, even through that, you take thought of me and of each person listening. You are our help and our deliver and we ask you Lord to not delay in moving on our behalf. We come to you with wide open arms and welcome you in for what you have for us in that book, Nicky Reference. Lord, you know what's to come. Do not delay in Jesus name. Amen.
Nikki Humphrey (46:19)
Amen. Woo, that'll do it, sister. That was awesome.
Hope Mangiafico (46:22)
That'll do it.
Wow. Thank you for listeners. ⁓ This has blessed me. Thank you, Nikki, for coming, showing up with, I just have to really thank you, ⁓ with like full attention and readiness. Preparation's the word I'm looking for. Preparation for delivering an episode like this.
Nikki Humphrey (46:44)
It just came download from the Holy Spirit yesterday. And I want to say too, if today's episode spoke to your heart, would you share it with somebody who needs quiet joy right now? And until next time, remember, joy is not a feeling, it's your foundation, and it's already yours in Christ.
Hope Mangiafico (47:07)
Amen. Take care.
