Joy Is a Choice: How April Chose to Lead with Hope

April Ferree didn’t want to stay stuck in sadness. So she made a decision—she chose joy.

And that choice led her to lead others into healing through DivorceCare.

Choosing joy in the aftermath of divorce

For April, divorce wasn’t just emotionally painful—it was disorienting. After 22 years of marriage, she suddenly found herself alone, uncertain, and facing a new normal.

Instead of retreating into isolation, she leaned into the help offered through DivorceCare.

“I went all in,” she says. “I knew I wanted it to be different because everything hit, and I knew I couldn’t do it alone.”

That choice—to step into community, to trust again, to pursue healing—led to something unexpected: joy.

“I didn’t carry joy for so long,” April says. “And joy is a choice. You can choose to get mired down by your circumstances, or you can choose something better.”

Her joy didn’t come from ignoring the pain. It came from moving through it—with Jesus and with others.

Leading through the hurt

April’s healing journey didn’t stop when the 13-week DivorceCare cycle ended. In fact, it was just beginning.

After completing her first full cycle, she knew she’d eventually lead one herself. But like many people considering leadership, she had questions: Am I ready? Can I really help others when I’m still healing?

It wasn’t until the finalization of her divorce that she felt released to move forward. And even then, it took courage. “I knew I didn’t want to do it the same way,” she says. “I didn’t want a lack of happiness and joy in my life.”

So she stepped out. And God met her there.

April started a brand-new DivorceCare group at her childhood church—where none had existed before. Since then, she’s led multiple sessions, formed lifelong friendships, and started a singles social group to help others rebuild their lives with purpose.

“I just gave myself a break,” she says. “I surrounded myself with good people. And I trusted the process.”

Leadership with a purpose

Leading isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence, and April models that well.

“There’s not much I have to do,” she says. “Sometimes I just sit back and listen as the group encourages each other—offering Scripture, prayer, or just saying, ‘Yeah, that stinks.’ It’s beautiful.”

April leads with empathy, laughter, and, yes, chocolate.

But she also brings a deeper intentionality. She writes devotionals. She checks in midweek. She walks with people through the mess of grief, helping them discover what she found: Joy is still possible.

Her groups don’t just attend. They stay connected. Some come back to help lead. One man even forgave his ex-wife because of the conversations sparked in April’s group.

“That’s freedom,” she says. “When you have that forgiveness, you can walk it out.”

Joy shared is joy multiplied

April’s joy is contagious. It overflows into every relationship, every session, and every leader she encourages.

“God redeems our time,” she says. “He gives you the space to fit it all in. And it solidifies the work He did in you through the hard healing.”

Today, April is raising new leaders from within her church and dreams of helping more churches launch DivorceCare groups.

“This is God’s ministry,” she says. “If you feel Him nudging you, don’t ignore that. The joy and purpose that can come out of your pain. It’s real.

Step into joy today. Help others find hope by leading DivorceCare.

Watch April share her story: