When Joy is Stubborn

Scripture:
“You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.” — John 16:20

Joy is often misunderstood as emotional brightness or constant cheer. Yet Jesus speaks of joy emerging not instead of grief, but through it. In the life of faith, joy and sorrow are not opposites competing for space; they are companions that often walk together. Advent names this truth honestly. The world into which Christ was born was still broken, still violent, still uncertain—and yet joy arrived.

There are seasons when joy feels muted, almost fragile, as if it might break under the weight of loss or disappointment. But biblical joy is not brittle. It does not pretend pain is absent. It endures because it is rooted not in circumstances, but in God’s nearness. Emmanuel—God with us—means joy can remain even when answers do not.

This paradox invites us to stop waiting for a pain-free future before allowing joy to surface. Joy does not minimize grief; it gives it a horizon.

Application:
Allow yourself to acknowledge both joy and sorrow today without forcing either one away.

Sentence Prayer:
God, help me trust that joy can remain present even when my heart is heavy.

40 Days of Gratitude Reminder:
Give thanks today for one way God has met you tenderly during a difficult season.

Christmas Song Suggestion:“In the Bleak Midwinter” – Susan Boyle