Nicole Zasowski and Amber discuss the heart behind her newest book What If It’s Wonderful?, the spiritual practice of celebration, and why we often resist celebrating.

Courage to Celebrate Questions Discussed:

1. (2:43) Your story involves multiple miscarriages and crippling anxiety that led to a reluctance to celebrate for fear of what may come.  In What If It’s Wonderful you write, “I was sure that celebration always came with a catch, so I became practiced in praying for the miracle while preparing to mourn,” Share a bit of your story and how God began to impress upon you the spiritual practice of celebration.
2. (9:50) Why do you think we can be hesitant or completely shy away from celebrating God’s good gifts, especially after enduring hardship
3. (16:32) You wrote, “Christians I stood shoulder to shoulder with through most seasons of my life tended to emphasize other disciplines- like prayer, fasting, and the study of God’s Word- but were not particularly disciplined about celebration.” What does the Bible say about celebration and why is this practice important?
4. (22:50) What are some practical things that you started doing to introduce celebration as a rhythm?
5. (28:07) What is the difference between celebration and escapism?
6. (32:03) In your practice of celebration, what have you discovered about the character of God?
7. (35:53) For someone who wants to learn to embrace celebration, what are you hoping that this book speaks into them?

Courage to Celebrate Quotes to Remember:

“It took me a really long time to spot that my joy was always accompanied by fear.”

“I was still praying for all the breakthrough, the miracles, but my heart was not expecting. I was extremely guarded with pessimism and cynicism. Those are similar ,but pessimism is more preparing for the worst case scenario. Cynicism doubts other people’s motives. And in my case, I’ll just be really honest. While I knew better in my head, my heart doubted God’s motives. I know he can and he will demonstrate that breakthrough for other people, but not for me.”

“Our brain is stickier with negative and painful input than it is with positive and delightful input.”

“And sadly, your brain is very efficient, and does not want to hang on to things that it doesn’t think are important. And sadly, a lot of those are the everyday joys that we can experience.”

“Both the Bible and Jesus’s life are bookended by celebration. And the Old Testament really beautifully outlines a lot of the feasts and festivals that God’s people practiced regularly.”

“What I noticed about those Old Testament feasts and festivals… they are practiced in rhythm.  The Israelites didn’t celebrate, because they were in the mood to do so or because they had achieved something fabulous, or because all of their work was done, and they had earned the celebration. They celebrated because it was time to do so.”

“That’s one of my favorite things that Scripture highlights about celebration, it is the food, the tradition, the timing of it is all meant to anchor us in remembering who God is and his faithfulness.”

“Thanksgiving is our way of celebrating the gift with the giver.”

“I think celebration has been misbranded as sort of blowing off steam or something that takes us away from Christ, instead of a practice or an avenue of engaging with God. Celebration at its best is a rhythm of engaging with God.  It helps us lead in and stay connected to our senses, to our relationship with God, and to our relationship with other people.”

“I knew a God who was at the center with me of my pain, and so present in that place…. but I also know him to be the center of my celebration. He loves our joy, because he is joy.”

“We should absolutely delight in the gifts that God gives us in our lives. But Christ warns us, just make sure they’re not standing awkwardly in the wrong position, because what sits at the center of our affection will determine the satiation of our joy. If Christ is not at the center of our celebration, the satiation of our joy will run out.”

“God’s faithfulness is not dependent on your faith. His goodness, is not a function of your goodness.”

Scripture References

• Luke 1 (Story of Elizabeth ad Zechariah)

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: What If It’s Wonderful? by Nicole Zasowski
• Book: From Lost to Found by Nicole Zasowski

Related Episodes:

• 159: Mattie Jackson Selecman | Tidbits of Joy & Debilitating Grief
• 69: Sam and Amber Cullum | Sabbath as a Family
• 149: Amy Gannett | Knowing & Worshipping God

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