You're listening to the Allender Center podcast with Dr. Dan Allender.

This week, Dan is joined by his good friend Stacey Eldridge, author of the new book, Defiant Joy.

Stacey and Dan talk about the intimate connection between sorrow and joy, and about how denying the existence of pain and

brokenness may actually shut us down to the possibility of joy.

Well, folks, I have the immense privilege to introduce Stacey Eldridge, who not only is a remarkable, remarkable woman, but also a dear, dear friend.

So I have to confess that this is not just privilege, but I am so biased about

the glory of your life, Stacey, and the glory of this new book. I get to talk with you about the new

book, Defiant Joy, Taking Hold of Hope, Beauty, and Life in a Hurting hurting world. So Stacey, thank you so much for,

I think this is our first time ever to do this. It is our first time. And Dan, you just make

my heart burst. Thank you for saying that. It's just, it's really an honor to be with you

on the podcast. But of course, the deepest honor is being your friend,

and so I just love you.

So here we go on a podcast.

We do.

We do.

And let me just say, this book, I know personally has cost you.

We had the privilege of being with you as you were writing soon before it came out.

And I just know that anyone who tackles a topic as huge and as important as joy pays a price.

So I just want to say thank you for this book and thank you for the cost that it has brought for you and John and your family as a result, both the glory but also the heartache. And when I think about how to begin talking about this book, the fact is you have done such a beautiful job in being faithful to Scripture.

And joy is such a central, central part of what we are meant to be about, what we're

meant to receive and offer to others. But you have been equally faithful to what I want to call the text of life,

the sorrow, the suffering, the questions.

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