Having Fun on Purpose: Why Joy Belongs in Your Christian Home
For the past month, we've been talking about how to fight fair — how to pick your battles and work through conflict in your marriage and family. It was heavy, important work. But this week, we're pivoting. We need a rest from the battle. So let's talk about something just as biblical, and honestly, something a lot of us forget to prioritize: fun.
It's Okay to Loosen Up
If you're a "type A, black and white" personality (Bryce will be the first to raise his hand here), everything can start to feel serious. The bills. The parenting. The schedules. Life becomes something you just have to get through today, and somewhere in there, we forget to laugh.
But joy isn't the opposite of faithfulness — it's part of it. Nehemiah 8:10 tells us "the joy of the Lord is your strength," and joy is listed as a fruit of the Spirit. Proverbs reminds us that a joyful heart is good medicine. We are meant to enjoy this life, even in the middle of hard seasons.
We think of the man we once saw at a stoplight on the way to church — tie on, suit jacket, gripping the wheel at ten and two with a scowl on his face. He clearly knew where he was headed. Somebody just needed to tell his face that he was on his way to worship the Lord and Savior with people who love him. And if we're honest, a lot of us wear that same face at home without realizing it.
Give Yourself Permission to Laugh
We're giving you permission today: go find those moments in your family and laugh. Here are a few ways to start.
Have date nights — with everyone. Date nights with your spouse are essential for rekindling your marriage, but don't stop there. Have date nights with your kids too. Family nights rekindle the fun in your home. It doesn't have to be board games if that's not your thing — find whatever your family actually enjoys, whether that's Frisbee golf, a movie night discussion, or building something out of Legos together.
Get down and play. It's easy to let the "doing" of parenting — homework, dinner, baths, bedtime — crowd out the "playing" of parenting. If that's been you, it's not too late. Get on the floor. Imagine with them. Read to them. Those moments matter more than we realize in the middle of them.
Find an adopted grandparent. When we moved away for seminary and our first ministry position, our kids didn't have grandparents nearby for seven years. So we found people at church — trusted, like-minded, older adults — who loved on our kids like grandparents would. If your family is far from extended family, consider asking someone in that season of life if they'd be willing to fill that role. Most people will say yes before you even finish the question.
Pray together — it builds more fun, not less. This might sound backwards, but the family that prays together has more fun together. When you pray for someone, your mindset toward them changes. The same is true in your family. Praying together isn't a separate, serious activity walled off from the fun stuff — it's what makes the fun stuff meaningful. When God is woven into everything, kids stop compartmentalizing faith into "the church box" and start seeing Him as part of every good moment, including the silly ones.
Be spontaneous. Some of the best family memories come out of nowhere. A barefoot race down a snowy street. An unannounced trip for ice cream after church. A random weekday off to go do something completely different than normal. You don't need a plan — you need a willingness to say yes to the moment.
A Few Fun Family Ideas to Try This Week
Game nights (board games, Wii bowling, whatever gets everyone laughing)
Family walks
Cooking together, even if it gets messy
Family movie nights
A weekly tradition, like homemade pizza night
Little road trips
Bonfires
Dancing in the kitchen (yes, even if your kids say it's gross)
Telling family stories out loud
None of these have to cost much. What they cost is time — and what they build is a bank of joyful memories your family can draw on when the hard seasons come.
The Home You're Building
Philippians 4:4 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always." Not just on the easy days. Always. That doesn't mean ignoring responsibility or pretending life isn't hard sometimes — it means refusing to let the hard things be the only thing your family remembers.
You and your spouse are creating the culture your kids will carry into their own homes someday. Fun, faith, and family aren't separate categories — they're meant to be woven together into one life. So this week, we'd love to hear from you: what's a fun tradition your family loves? Drop it in the comments — we'd love to get some ideas flowing for other families too.
Bring hope home to your life today.
Bryce and Colette Schaffer are pastors of New Hope Church in Timber Lake, SD, and hosts of the Bringing Hope Home podcast. They are the creators of the Marriage Builders course and authors of several books, including Planted, Expecting Jesus, Stolen Gifts, and God Is Bigger. New episodes of Bringing Hope Home release weekly, wherever you listen to podcasts and on YouTube.