The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore, my heart rejoices, and I give thanks to Him with my song. -Psalm 28:7
Why is Finding Joy So Hard?
There’s this tension that sort of lurks when we face some heavy life circumstances, yet joy eludes us. I mean, how can I possibly walk in joy when I feel so weighed down, worried, and just want to withdraw? That tension is real. Even when I don’t want to feel the heaviness, and I’d rather walk in joy, it seems impossible.
But maybe we forget, don’t fully know, how much God has given us to help us walk through this life, especially in hard times. Because the hard times, they don’t stop. Does that mean we should live our entire lives worried, hurt, angry, and sad? Because when we only focus on the hard, that’s exactly what happens.
Joy isn’t drummed up by trying to force yourself to be happy when things are hard. God has given us so much life and love to focus on; joy is a natural response to it. He offers us hope, help, and the Holy Spirit.
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. -John 15:10-11
It’s difficult to find joy when our focus is on everything except God. When we step outside His covering, we become exposed. The world and its worries overtake us, and we are unable to see past the constant hardships and heartaches because we’re no longer abiding in the Lord.
Abiding in God means to remain in Him—His words, His ways, His will. That’s where lasting joy in Him lives. Joy isn’t tied to good outcomes, an easy life, or emotional relief. It’s tetherd to God Himself. This doesn’t mean joy and sorrow can’t co-exist.
Joy is Found in Jesus
I think many people do not believe God when He says something. Think about it. If we truly believed Him when he says there’s fullness of joy in His presence, why do we leave His? Or, why don’t we enter in? It’s a genuine, honest question, not a condemnation.
God gives us Himself so we can live the most abundant, fulfilling life, but for some reason, we choose our own way and our own selves and then don’t understand why we’re lacking joy.
Enter into His presence. Become obedient to His Word because you believe in its power.
Is belief the starting point? Can we step into something if we don’t even believe it?
I think yes, and we should try. Maybe we have a little faith but need a little help. Stepping out into something we can’t fully see or understand is evidence of our faith in action. And this? This is where God meets us.
If we don’t believe, then we need to pray for God to help our unbelief. We need to see ourselves as recipients of what God has already given us: joy in Him. Rejoicing in Him is an act of trust and not a denial of pain.
God doesn’t desire that we walk through life sad, worried, depressed, or anxious. He wants us to walk in the abundant life He’s given us. But we need to trust Him with the details.
When Joy Feels Lost
Here’s where we can often get confused. When life gets heavy, and we’ve lost that joy, it’s time to do a little heart evaluation.
Jesus says that joy is found in Him. If we are struggling to have joy, the only explanation is that we aren’t looking for it in Him. Knowing joy comes from Him isn’t enough to cultivate it in our lives.
It’s a practice of constantly resting in Him, trusting in Him, and walking with Him. A quiet time with the Lord is important, but carrying His words, His presence, and obedience with you throughout the day matters, too.
When we stay anchored in Him, joy flows from Him. It’s not something you generate; it’s something you rest in.
Focus on His goodness, grace, and love for you. Your circumstances don’t define His love.
The Power of Gratitude
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds. -James 1:2
How can you embody this truth in your everyday life, even when we’re walking through troubles?
A great place to start is actually gratitude.
Ann Voskamp says in her One Thousand Gifts Devotional,
“While I may not always feel joy, God asks me to give thanks in all things because He knows that the feeling of joy begins in the action of thanksgiving.
“Joy doesn’t negate all other emotions—joy transcends all other emotions.”
We’re the ones who rob ourselves of joy because we demand our own will. So how can we walk through the day with joy?
There’s this trend going around about protecting your peace, and it’s often done by cutting people out of your life. But this doesn’t protect your peace; it only isolates you.
In the same way, we cannot protect our joy by avoiding hard things. We protect it by letting go and walking in obedience to God. The fight for joy is always hard because it requires us to surrender and allow His will to be done. The fight against this is what steals our joy.
Joy is expressed through gratitude, worship, stillness, spoken trust, and working our daily tasks as an offering to the Lord.
Are you open to what He’s giving you in the moment, even when it’s hard? Will you give thanks in the mundane, when it seems the minutiae of life doesn’t make a difference?
Let’s Pray
Father God, thank you for the gift of joy you’ve given. Help me to do your will, not my own, because that is where true joy is found. Remind me that you are in my every moment, good and bad, and when I seek your face within every circumstance, joy can be found. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
For Further Study
A Joy That Endures – How Jesus Is the Source of Unshakeable Joy (Bible Study)
One Thousand Gifts – Ann Voskamp (Book)
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