Sermon Reflections from Dancing through the Storms | Alex Hardt | June 30, 2025
I chose joy.
Now, don’t get me wrong—this wasn’t the fake-it-‘til-you-make-it kind of joy. This wasn’t denial. And look if I am really honest with you, it took a minute for me to get to that place of joy. This was a rough week, but God's joy showed up. This was the kind of joy that shows up in the storm, not after it. The kind of joy that steadies your heart when nothing else makes sense, and what I was going through didn't make sense to me or the doctors. It wasn’t about pretending everything was okay (because even right now I am super fatigued); it was about trusting in who God is and seeing my situation and world through his eyes.
And that was the basis of my message this week, though clearly the analogy wasn't predetermined, even though the theme of: “Dancing Through the Storms, " was.
My message looked at Singin’ in the Rain, the classic musical where Don Lockwood (played by Gene Kelly) finds himself in the middle of Hollywood chaos—career changes, public pressure, and personal uncertainty. And how does he respond? With joy. In the most iconic scene of the film, Don dances—literally—in the rain, soaking wet, with a fever of 101 in real life! Yet he radiates happiness. Why? Because he chooses to celebrate in the storm.
That joy reminded me of King David in 2 Samuel 6. When the Ark of the Covenant—the very presence of God—returned to Jerusalem, David didn’t just observe from the sidelines. He danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a simple priestly garment instead of his royal robes. People judged him. Even his wife criticized him. But David knew something they didn’t—the joy of the Lord isn’t about performance or appearance. It’s about presence.
That same message is echoed in Philippians 4, where Paul writes from prison:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Paul reminds us that joy isn’t tied to circumstances—it’s tied to Christ. And the peace of God comes not from having a perfect life, but from practicing a faithful one.
In a world full of noise—external voices, internal pressures, and cultural expectations—real joy can feel out of reach. It definitely did for me at times this week...But here’s what I’m learning:
Joy doesn’t grow from hustle.
It grows from being still.
From being rooted in God.
From being present with the One who loves you endlessly.
If you’re weary from trying to hold it all together, hear this: you don’t have to perform for God. You just need to rest in his peace and joy. This might be hard... cause honestly all of life feels like a performance from social media to work presentations to your kids activities to even going to church. But God calls us to a different way of life. A way filled with peace and joy.
So maybe
Let God’s peace be your rhythm.
Let His presence be your anchor.
Let His truth be your song.
And when the storms roll in—as they inevitably will—dance anyway. Not because the rain stopped, but because you know the One who walks with you through it.
That’s the joy we’re called to. That’s the joy that overflows.
Let His presence be your anchor.
Let His truth be your song.
And when the storms roll in—as they inevitably will—dance anyway. Not because the rain stopped, but because you know the One who walks with you through it.
That’s the joy we’re called to. That’s the joy that overflows.
I don't know what you're going through right now... whether life is great or your going through a tough spot like I did last week, but I do know that in all circumstances that we are invited to experience the Joy of our Lord. And I'm not saying your circumstances will change, but what I've discovered is that when my perspective changed... everything was different. The world didn't look so dark anymore.
So here’s my prayer for you:
That you would find freedom in choosing joy when life is loud.
That you would dance in the face of criticism.
And that you would overflow—not from performance—but from peace.
Keep dancing, friend.
Even in the rain.
So here’s my prayer for you:
That you would find freedom in choosing joy when life is loud.
That you would dance in the face of criticism.
And that you would overflow—not from performance—but from peace.
Keep dancing, friend.
Even in the rain.
Blessings,
Pastor Alex
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Discovering God is a fresh look at how God is moving in our lives. Rooted in the Crossroads Church community, we reflect on sermons, share stories, and explore everyday moments where God invites us to grow. Join us as we take steps toward Him together. Learn more at www.wearecrossroads.church.
Discovering God is a fresh look at how God is moving in our lives. Rooted in the Crossroads Church community, we reflect on sermons, share stories, and explore everyday moments where God invites us to grow. Join us as we take steps toward Him together. Learn more at www.wearecrossroads.church.
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