Does Sacrifice Deepen Joy?

What if the real test of your faith isn’t what you believe—but what you’re willing to give up?In this episode, Greg and Tonya tackle the uncomfortable tension between pleasure and sacrifice. Why does Lent matter? Why would God give us good things—and then ask us to fast from them? And if Jesus is truly better than everything else… do our lives actually reflect that?From carrot cake to covenant marriage, from fasting to parenting exhaustion, this conversation digs into the difference between enjoying God’s gifts and worshiping them. Discover why voluntary sacrifice sharpens joy, why self-denial restores gratitude, and how enduring difficulty in marriage and family reveals something deeper about God Himself.If you’ve ever wondered:Why Christians fastWhether pleasure is spiritual or dangerousOr what sacrifice really proves about your faithThis episode will challenge the way you think about joy, discipline, and what it really means to say, “Jesus is better.”Choosing sacrifice tests and reveals whether we truly believe Jesus is better. Voluntary self-denial sharpens appreciation, restores focus, and deepens our experience of God.