You might be having an affair in the sheets. Let me explain…

I’m not talking about hotel rooms or romance. I’m talking about the spreadsheets — the way we let numbers, goals, and circumstances dictate our joy. The thought hit me while traveling through airports recently, noticing how rare genuine smiles have become.

It made me ask: When did we start holding joy hostage to our circumstances?

We talk about hope being the currency of the heart. In Session 2 of The Master’s Program, we explain how the heart is behind the soul. But how often do we only allow ourselves to experience joy when everything’s going our way? When the spreadsheet balances? When the circumstances cooperate?

How often have you let the spreadsheets decide?

I know I have. More often than I’d like to admit, I catch myself waiting for conditions to line up before I allow joy in. Waiting for that next achievement, that resolved problem, that answered prayer before I let myself smile. It’s like my joy is on hold, pending approval from my situation.

But joy isn’t about pretending. It’s about the source. The Apostle Paul understood this better than anyone. Sitting in a prison cell, he wrote some of the most joy-filled letters we have today. His joy was never dependent on his circumstances.

And in Philippians 4:8, he gives us the key. He lays out a filter for our thoughts — a way to choose joy no matter what’s happening around us:

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

This isn’t denial or wishful thinking. It’s training our minds to look beyond the temporary to what is eternally true.

I’ve started practicing this myself, especially in challenging moments — stuck in traffic, navigating work stress, or wrestling with uncertainty in my calling. I’ll pause and ask: What’s true here? What’s noble? What’s worthy of praise?

The change hasn’t been instant, but it’s real. My joy is becoming less tied to circumstances and more anchored in unchanging truths. My smile reflects God’s faithfulness rather than my situation’s favorability.

And I believe it can change you, too.

So here’s my challenge: take Philippians 4:8 and make it your filter for the next week. When you face a difficult situation, pause and ask yourself:

• What’s true here?
• What’s noble?
• What’s right?
• What’s pure?
• What’s lovely?
• What’s admirable?
• What’s excellent?
• What’s praiseworthy?

Write them down. Keep them somewhere visible. Use them as your lens for every situation you encounter. Let’s stop waiting for perfect conditions before we choose joy.

Because your smile isn’t just about you. It’s a testimony of the hope within you. It’s a declaration that your joy isn’t dictated by circumstances but anchored in the unchanging character of God.

So whether you’re staring at spreadsheets or walking through an airport, remember this:

He who provides the most hope…wins.

In your corner,
Jeff

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