A Roadmap to Joy: Finding God in Pain, Purpose, and the Unexpected

What if joy wasn’t the absence of pain, but something deeper, stronger, and always available? In this powerful episode of Covenant & Conflict, David Blease sits down with author and missionary Bonnie Saul Wilkes to explore a lifetime journey of calling, sacrifice, and discovering what true joy really is. From growing up with a Jewish last name in a Christian home… to encountering antisemitism that sparked a lifelong calling… to living on a kibbutz in Israel and eventually moving to the former Soviet Union to disciple thousands. Bonnie’s story is marked by bold obedience and unexpected turns. But what stands out most isn’t just the mission… it’s the joy she found along the way. In this conversation, Bonnie unpacks: • Why joy is not the same as happiness • How joy can coexist with suffering, loss, and uncertainty • The difference between joy, peace, and pleasure • Why gratitude is one of the most powerful spiritual practices • And how God leads us into joy through obedience, not comfort Even through cancer diagnoses in her family, hardship in missions, and seasons of deep pain, she discovered that joy isn’t something you stumble into… It’s something you walk into. Her new book, A Roadmap to Joy, is the result of decades of journaling, poetry, and real-life encounters with God, and every story somehow leads back to one truth: Joy is always available in His presence. Watch now and discover what it means to walk the pathway of joy. 00:00 – Intro: A Life Marked by Calling 02:15 – From Antisemitism to a Calling for the Jewish People 08:00 – Leaving Everything for the Nations (Soviet Union Missions) 13:11 – The Unexpected Theme: Why Every Story Led to Joy 19:50 – Joy vs Happiness: What Most People Get Wrong 30:55 – The Counterfeits of Joy (Pleasure, Success, Isolation) 35:15 – Joy vs Peace: How to “Soar Over the Chaos” 41:10 – A Final Prayer: Walking the Pathway of Joy FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: • https://instagram.com/CenterForIsrael • https://www.facebook.com/CenterForIsrael • https://twitter.com/CenterForIsrael • https://www.linkedin.com/company/gateway-center-for-israel LEARNING RESOURCES: • Getting Started — Israel 101: https://centerforisrael.com/getting-started • Israel Prayer Guide: https://centerforisrael.com/israel-prayer-guide • Perspective Papers: https://centerforisrael.com/papers