Stephanie welcomes Alastair Sterne to discuss the intricate and joyful dance of divine longing. They explore the innate human desire to seek God, the mysterious nature of joy, and the cultivated wisdom that guides us towards spiritual fulfillment in Christ.

Alastair Sterne describes the innate human desire to connect with God as a dance. This longing, he notes, arises from the paradox of God being both mysterious and revealed. Jesus Christ reveals God in ways we are invited to explore. The pursuit of God is a journey towards an eternal dance—an unmistakable yearning threaded throughout humanity's history.

Joy is not the absence of pain but a testament to divine triumph through trials. Alastair reflects on his personal battle with severe depression—a transformative experience that led him to explore the cultivation of joy. He draws inspiration from the apostle Paul's paradoxical journey: finding profound joy amidst suffering, as explained in Philippians.

Joy serves as a divine longing, a sort of homesickness for the eternal. Alastair and Stephanie ponder the concept of joy, highlighting its elusive yet universally appealing nature. Joy transcends fleeting satisfaction, and aligns with a deep-seated desire for God's presence.

Wisdom, as discussed by Alastair, provides a framework for cultivating environments where joy can thrive. Drawing upon Proverbs and Miroslav Volf's insights, he argues that wisdom is integral to experiencing "the crown of the good life." By nurturing habits and attitudes, we can plant seeds that allow joy to grow—even amidst life's challenges.

Beauty too can be a bridge to divine presence: aesthetic experiences often lead to deeper spiritual connections. Beauty is a precursor to worship, signifying God's creative handiwork. Joy remains contagious regardless of its expression. It can manifest subtly through introspective personalities, or vibrantly via extroverted expressions. This contagious nature inspires others to pursue joy and strengthens the collective spiritual journey.

The church calendar invites us towards spiritual awareness, as well. Alastair values the rhythm it brings, providing opportunities to reflect on joyous seasons like Eastertide and introspective ones like Lent. He emphasizes integrating these spiritual practices into daily life to heighten one's awareness of God's presence.

Alastair Sterne invites us to explore the deeper dimensions of joy, wisdom, and longing. By embracing the dance with the divine, cultivating wisdom, and recognizing beauty in creation, we can align ourselves with a spiritual trajectory ever deeper into Christ. Alastair's prayer for all those who are listening, asking for God's joy to fill hearts, encapsulates the hope and assurance that await those seeking enduring joy in their spiritual journey.

MORE ABOUT ALASTAIR STERNE

Alastair Sterne (DIS, Fuller Theological Seminary) is a creative director turned pastor. He serves as the associate pastor at Coastline Church in Victoria, British Columbia. He previously partnered with Redeemer City to City and founded St. Peter's Fireside, a creative liturgical church in Vancouver. He is the author of Rhythms for Life: Spiritual Practices for Who God Made You to Be. Alastair and his wife, Julia, write and podcast together at ordinarymatters.org and collect joy with their daughters.

MORE ABOUT “LONGING FOR JOY.”

Can we still have joy in a world of pain and anxiety?

The troubles around us and in our lives lead many of us into a joyless experience where despair and hopelessness are the norm. Yet something within us still longs for a joy that transcends our challenges and gives us meaning and satisfaction.

Alastair Sterne says that our inner longings for joy actually point us to a God of joy who gives us both the capacity for joy and the realities of joyful experience. Sterne explores pathways to joy and why we often experience the absence of joy. He then offers theologically grounded and research-based practices for becoming people of joyful presence. Even if we are not temperamentally happy enthusiasts, we can gradually cultivate the deep abiding joy that we were created for and that enriches the world around us.

SAMPLE FROM “LONGING FOR JOY”

“When it comes to having children, someone once said, “You’ll have less fun but more joy.” I’m not sure I agree with the former but I wholeheartedly agree with the latter—being a father has amplified my joy. Indeed, it is among my greatest joys.

My eldest fractured her wrist yesterday. And today, we figured that out. Oops. It’s a relatively minor fracture (compared to her broken arm five years ago). She’s casted up and ready to go. I can’t say it was fun to be in the emergency room for hours on end. But there was nowhere else I’d rather be than by her side . . . even though she was mostly engrossed in a movie or book.

On my run this afternoon (my ankles are getting stronger, thanks be to God), I came across an intriguing bench. A rather idyllic path leads to it. The plaque reads: “A place to rest, reflect, and remember in loving memory of our grandmother, mother, sister, and daughter.” But when you sit on the bench, the view is rather, well, uninspired. A beautiful lake resides just around the bend, but this bench is positioned to look at . . . bushes.

But should you sit, rest, and reflect, you will see more than bushes. You will see the beauty of the ordinary. The unremarkable transfigured into glory. I won’t pretend to be able to name all the species of plants and trees. As I stood there, no longer perplexed by the position of the bench, I was enamored by the gift it offers: the beautiful ordinary.

Back to being a father: most days are ordinary. And if I’m careless, they can even feel unremarkable—a compilation of repetitions. But then moments poke holes in the veneer of banality, like hospital waiting rooms for relatively minor injuries. You look at life with a renewed thankfulness and your heart becomes a little more sensitive too. When I sit, rest, and reflect, I find that joy often abides somewhere between thankfulness and a sensitive heart.

Would it have been more fun to play hooky from school and go on a walk in the woods with my daughter rather than wait, and wait, and wait among the injured and sick? Of course. Nevertheless, joy sat quietly with us as we waited.

The joy of fatherhood and the joy of a well-placed bench.”

We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with.

Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog

Identity in the battle | Ephesians

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/74762/link/

Centering on Christ | The Tabernacle experience

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/94182/link/

Shades of Red | Against human oppression

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/115017/link/

God's glory, our delight 

https://www.podcastics.com/episode/126051/link/

 

You are invited to join us on the Gospel Spice Prayer Bible Study, titled "The heart behind prayer" starting September 20, 2025! Details and registration here: https://www.gospelspice.com/prayer 

There are a few things in our Christian life that we know we should do more, or at least better – and prayer just might top the list. Prayer is a mystery. Why would a conversation with a human have any influence on God’s eternal, sovereign plan? It defies logic, and beckons love. How can God, the Almighty Lord of Hosts, be this close, this personal? It defies understanding, and beckons involvement.

But, lack of time, inspiration, and discipline, combined with the ruthless tyranny of our busy lives, push prayer to the periphery, to the “one day I’ll get to it” pile. And yet, we can excel at what we endeavor to undertake. So, why isn’t prayer more of a spiritual priority? Could we develop a mindset around prayer that made it attractive, inspiring, even maybe delightful? What if we attuned our spiritual ears to listen to God, and our spiritual eyes to see His provision?

As an unassuming student, I’m going to humbly offer to share the little I have learned from others about the joy of prayer. I will give us theology, practical tips, and useful resources, sharing what works for me as we, together, learn to pray.

If you find prayer intimidating, or if your lack of prayer makes you feel guilty or “less than,” then this is the place for you! If you have been a student of prayer for many years, this is the place for you too! If you have breath in your lungs, then prayer can become one of the deepest joys of your day. Don’t miss out!

A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT PRAYER

To pray is to believe that God not only hears, but that He responds. It is to stand in the gap for a broken world, wielding the authority of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and trusting in the goodness of the Father. The question is not whether prayer works, but whether we are willing to pray the kinds of prayers that invite God’s Kingdom into the darkest places of the earth—and of our own hearts.

We may never fully understand the mechanics of prayer, or how it intersects with God's sovereignty, but we are not called to understand everything. We are called to be faithful. And faithfulness means showing up—in prayer, in persistence, in expectation.

So today, let us pray not only for the comfort of our hearts, but for the transformation of the world. Let us take our place as image-bearers, co-laborers, and co-heirs. Let us believe that God is still listening—and still acting. Because He is.

There’s only one way to find out what might happen when we truly pray like this.

Let’s begin.

THE MINDSET BEHIND THIS COURSE

Before we begin, let me tell you the obvious: I don’t really know how to pray. I’m a humble student and absolute beginner at the holy endeavor that is prayer. So, this course isn’t really about what I’ve learned, or any wisdom I might have gathered. But, I’ve sat at the feet of many prayer warriors over the decades, through books and teachings.

So, I’ll share what I learned from them. Humility is going to be our primary heart posture! With each lesson, I will offer a few thoughts, practices, and ideas – with much humility, and not taking myself too seriously. I will also share her favorite books and resources about prayer. FInally, I will introduce you to some of the most influential prayer warriors of our history as the Body of Christ.

Most importantly, I will invite YOU to pray! Learning to pray comes from praying. Our humble ambition is to inspire you to pray, and to give you a few tips on how to do that. Then, it’s up to you! Prayer is a lifelong endeavor. Let’s make it delightful together!

So, let’s get started.

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