Joy Illustrations
2073 illustrations evoking joy
Harriet: Freedom's Season Comes - Black Church (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
Imagine a night heavy with the weight of despair, the kind of darkness that wraps around you like a thick fog. In that oppressive stillness, a figure emerges—Harriet Tubman, her silhouette against the moonlit fields of Maryland, heart pounding with...
Babette's Feast: Vocational Salt and Light - Lutheran (Matthew 5:13-16)
In the heart of a bleak, coastal town, where the winds howled like a lament and the colors of life seemed to fade, stood a humble café run by a woman named Babette. She was a master chef, but her...
Les Misérables: Rest Through Responsive Grace - Wesleyan (Matthew 11:28-30)
Amid the cobbled streets of Paris, a weary man named Jean Valjean trudges through the dampness of twilight, a shroud of bitterness clinging to him like the heavy coat he wears. Years of imprisonment have etched lines of distrust on...
Selma: Transformed Minds Resisting Conformity - Progressive (Romans 12:1-2)
Picture a warm, sun-soaked day in Selma, Alabama, in March 1965. The air buzzes with anticipation, tension, and a powerful hope that stirs the soul. A sea of determined souls gathers along the banks of the Alabama River, their faces...
Les Misérables: Love, Joy, Peace Grown Through Grace - Traditional (Galatians 5:22-23)
In Victor Hugo's *Les Misérables*, we witness the remarkable transformation of Jean Valjean—a man shaped and reshaped by grace over the years, much like the unfolding of the fruit of the Spirit in our own lives. Imagine Valjean, a man...
The Example of Joy - Quote
In the summer of 1945, a small village in Germany was slowly rebuilding from the devastation of war. Among the villagers was an elderly woman named Greta, who had lost nearly all her family in the conflict. Despite her profound...
Chariots of Fire: Fruit Growing Through Sanctification - Wesleyan (Galatians 5:22-23)
On a cool, crisp morning, the sun begins to rise over the rolling hills of Scotland, casting a golden hue across the fields where young Eric Liddell prepares for yet another day of training. Picture him, breath visible in the...
The Power of Goodness - Quote
There’s a story I want to share about a woman named Elizabeth, who lived through some of the darkest days of our history. Elizabeth grew up in a small southern town where her family faced the weight of systemic oppression....
Finding Beauty in Everyday Moments
In our fast-paced, image-driven world, we often find ourselves wrestling with the concept of Beauty. It can feel like a double-edged sword—both a source of inspiration and a painful reminder of what we lack. For those of us striving to...
Lessons from Kindness - Quote
In a small town not far from here, there lived a woman named Mary. She was known for her gentle spirit and unwavering kindness, always greeting everyone with a warm smile. But beneath that calm exterior, Mary carried a heavy...
Amazing Grace: Spirit-Wrought Fruit for Cultural Transformation - Reformed (Galatians 5:22-23)
In the heart of London, amidst the shadows of 18th-century injustice, a small, determined man named William Wilberforce walked the cobbled streets with a heavy heart. He was not a knight in shining armor, but rather a humble servant of...
Science Illustration: Chemistry and Transformation
Picture a chemist in a lab, eyes gleaming with wonder as they mix two ordinary substances. In that moment, the room fills with anticipation—something remarkable is about to unfold. As the elements combine, a transformation occurs. What once existed as...
When Gentleness - Quote
There was a young boy named Mark, who carried the weight of the world on his small shoulders. He was a timid child, often overlooked and bullied by his peers. His days were marked by a profound loneliness that whispered...
Les Misérables: Practiced Joy, Prayer, Gratitude - Wesleyan (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
In Victor Hugo's *Les Misérables*, we witness the transformative journey of Jean Valjean, a man whose heart is gradually reshaped through the practices of joy, prayer, and gratitude. Imagine Valjean in the damp, shadowy corners of a prison cell, his...
The Example of Mercy - Quote
There was a small village in 19th-century England, where a man named Andrew lived. He was known for his rough exterior and solitary ways, haunted by a past marked by poor choices and deep regrets. The villagers whispered of his...
The Pursuit of Happyness: Faith That Seeks and Finds - Wesleyan (Hebrews 11:1-6)
In the heart of San Francisco, amidst the bustling city streets and the constant hum of ambition, lived a man named Chris Gardner. He was not just a dreamer; he was a man armed with hope in one hand and...
Chariots of Fire: Fruit Cultivated Through Discipline - Anglican (Galatians 5:22-23)
Imagine a chilly morning in the Scottish highlands, where the mist hugs the ground and the air is crisp with the promise of dawn. Eric Liddell, a young man of faith and fervor, laces up his worn running shoes, each...
Friday Night Lights: Personal Love in Community - Baptist (Romans 12:9-21)
In the heart of Dillon, Texas, Coach Eric Taylor stands on the sidelines, his whistle dangling around his neck like a lifeline. The stadium lights cast a warm glow as the Friday night crowd buzzes with anticipation. But it’s not...
Jesus Revolution: Hippies Fearfully Made - Charismatic (Psalm 139:13-16)
In the vibrant heart of the 1970s, the air was thick with the scent of sandalwood and patchouli. It was a time when the world seemed to spin off its axis, and many young souls wandered in search of something—a...
Jesus Revolution: Revival Love Overcoming Culture - Charismatic (Romans 12:9-21)
Imagine a bustling street in San Francisco during the height of the 1960s. The air is electric with the scent of incense, the distant strumming of guitars, and the laughter of young people dancing in the sunlight. It’s a time...
Witness: The Amish as City on a Hill - Anabaptist (Matthew 5:13-16)
In the film *Witness*, we are drawn into the heart of an Amish community—a vivid tapestry of simplicity and faith that stands in stark contrast to the chaos of modern life. Picture this: a sun-drenched morning in Lancaster County, where...
Harriet: Freedom Faith as Answer - Black Church (1 Peter 3:15)
In the quiet, moonlit nights of the Antebellum South, when the air was thick with the scent of magnolia and the distant sound of crickets sang a haunting lullaby, Harriet Tubman emerged not just as a woman of courage but...
The Example of Faith - Quote
In the heart of the biblical narrative, we find Hannah, a woman profoundly familiar with heartache and yearning. Longing for a child, she poured out her anguish before God at Shiloh, her lips moving yet her voice silent. Picture her...
Lessons from Salvation - Quote
A few years ago, I had the joy of attending a vibrant community celebration in a small town. The streets were lined with colorful banners, and the air was filled with laughter and music. It was a festival honoring the...