The truest key to joy

What is the secret to keeping our spirits full of joy? For Linda Liang, the answer can be found in the quiet wisdom of the children around us—those who remind us that the love and happiness God desires for us isn’t found in books or sermons alone, but alive in the lived ministry of children, teaching us how to keep playing, wondering, and believing.

“Working with children was absolutely out of my comfort zone. I had never had an experience like that. Just as I was about to start my Field Education placement, I thought, ‘How am I even going to approach them?’ I was genuinely concerned—after all, the arts were never really my strength!” Linda recalls, laughing.

 

When we think about teaching children, we often imagine being dynamic—leading through arts, crafts, and music, and giving them space to express themselves. But Linda felt that wasn’t where her gifts lay.

“I remember telling the pastor, ‘I’m not good at arts or music.’ And she said, ‘Well, me neither! But all you need, Linda, is to be genuinely yourself.’”

From that moment on, Linda reminded herself to embrace her own childlike spirit. To let go, even briefly, of the roles and expectations society places upon us, and to treat herself with tenderness, playfulness, and love.

“I started to treat myself as a child, so I could resonate with them. I reminded myself that maybe I didn’t need to overthink everything, but could simply allow myself to be silly—even if just once in a while!”

As her confidence grew, Linda began sharing her own stories and leading theater games with the children.

“Children don’t care about theological concepts or theoretical ideas—they want to hear you, your stories. I soon felt called not to focus so much on academic views, but to connect with them through my own experiences and find ways to share the gospel through those stories. That was the only way I realized they would truly engage and allow themselves to express their feelings.”

Teaching the gospel to young children often walks a beautiful, delicate line—one that nurtures a tender and trusting understanding of God and Jesus. The stories we tell, the space we create for questions, and the freedom we give their imagination can leave lasting impressions on their hearts. Linda emphasizes how vital it is to allow children to feel and embrace their emotions, rather than guiding them toward fixed notions or rigid understandings.

“We would usually ask the children how they were feeling about the stories we shared, and each of them would respond in their own unique way. Some would draw, some would paint, and some would simply have a flood of questions. What matters most is letting them move from the Bible to their own emotions, giving them space to express how they feel the love of God.”

As she approaches the end of her program and is no longer working as closely with children as before, Linda reflects on the wisdom these young teachers shared with her.

“Children taught me to remain deeply honest and pure, to stay curious, and never be afraid to ask questions. They never feel ashamed to seek answers. Through the storytelling, they invited me to share, and through their commitment and presence, I realized that I can engage more fully, even with adults, simply as a facilitator for their stories and emotions.”

Perhaps, when we ask ourselves what the key to joy truly is, we need to step back from our usual ways of living and teaching and witness the wisdom in being unapologetically ourselves, fun, silly, honest, and shameless. Like a child, whose heart still knows this is a good world, whose eyes still hold hope, and whose belief in love and wonder remains unshaken. Linda’s story reminds us that, as adults—and especially in ministry—we are called to nurture that same inner child within ourselves, keeping alive the courage to play, to wonder, and to see the world with fresh, open eyes. To discover the secrets of life alongside the wisdom God has placed in our children, and to cultivate both their curiosity and our own—as this, perhaps, is the truest key to joy.