Michael Easley Incontext

Summary: In this episode, Michael sits down with author and pastor Chip Ingram to explore what it means to choose joy—especially when life feels heavy. Chip shares how biblical joy is more than an emotion; it’s a deliberate choice rooted in Christ, not our circumstances. Drawing from Philippians, he describes Paul’s example of rejoicing in chains and challenges listeners to shift their perspective from personal comfort to God’s purposes. Chip also recounts his own battle with discouragement during COVID—how exercise, worship, and helping others lifted him from a dark place and unexpectedly sparked a global pastoral training initiative that reached hundreds of thousands. Together, Michael and Chip address the struggle many face in finding purpose later in life, especially after retirement. They outline practical ways to identify God-given passions and live on mission, no matter the season. Finally, Chip offers a compelling picture of biblical hope—not wishful thinking, but confident expectation in Christ’s