How Joy Gives Us Strength in Our Struggles
Transforming Truth:
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22 (ESV)
In typical Colorado fashion, spring had been a mixed bag of alluring warmups with a few snowstorms sprinkled in. Though a little inconsistent, temperatures began to reach early summer heights, cueing the reappearance of our deck furniture and recently purchased annuals in the flower boxes that lined the railing.
Although I’m a sunbather at heart, I had yet to take an afternoon soak in the invigorating sunshine. I was outside because my husband suggested that I “get some sun” and enjoy this ideal weekend weather. He knew I needed to put my mind in a “happy place” and stop isolating myself indoors now that winter was definitely behind us, but I doubted that my location had anything to do with the dread that hovered over me like a dark cloud.
Disrupting the momentary peace, my five-year-old daughter, thrilled that we had finally pulled out the backyard hammock, invited me to join her in the shade between the leafy trees that supported her as she swung happily. As I watched my youngest beam with excitement over the simple pleasure of swaying in the breeze, I realized what had been missing during my six-month struggle with escalating physical anxiety symptoms: joy.
On the outside, I’d been doing my best to keep it together, to smile in photos, and to remain as social as was required of me as a homeschooling mother of three. But inside, I was crushed—devastated, really—by the fact that I felt I had lost my battle to find relief from chronic anxiety symptoms without the use of medication.
Once known as the self-sufficient, overachieving “supermom” who could overcome any challenge, I felt like a shell of my former self, struggling to understand why God didn’t provide the medication-free finish line I pleaded for. Where was the joy in the midst of this failure?
Where’s the Joy?
Are you struggling to grab hold of God’s goodness when unrelenting storms in your life seem to be gathering force? Do you feel wrecked by turbulent circumstances, wondering if it’s even possible to feel the joy of the Lord that scripture promises will be your strength?
Maybe you’re as convinced as I was that because of our faith, we should be strong enough to weather life’s storms—especially if we’ve had a good track record in the past and others expect us to be strong. However, God’s Word tells us that His joy is our reliable source of strength, with the ability to bring healing (“good medicine”) when our hearts are crushed with discouragement.
Why His Joy Does Not Disappoint
The joy described in scripture is more complex than the human emotion we call “happiness.” Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22)—it is a result of the transforming work the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives because of our faith in Christ Jesus. The happiness provided by people and circumstances is inevitably inconsistent, but the joy and subsequent strength that comes from the Lord are as constant and unwavering as God Himself.
It’s a struggle not to focus on the hardship we are experiencing. If we keep our eyes fixed on what hasn’t changed, our circumstances begin to rule our emotions. But when we look back at what our faithful God has done in the past and what He promises to do in our future (Rom. 8:28), our perspective is what changes—and His joy does not disappoint.
Glimpses of Joy
As I watched my delighted daughter scoot her delicate body over on our two-person hammock to make room for me, I couldn’t help but smile. I carefully rolled on to maintain its balance while I added my clumsy weight, and she began to clap cheerfully. I squeezed her close to me, closing my eyes and whispering my thanks to God for this moment to embrace the precious gift of this giggling little girl.
Soon, the hammock was swinging more wildly due to my presence, and as I hung on for dear life, we burst out laughing. She grabbed my face with her soft, plump hands and admired her reflection in my sunglasses. “Take a picture,” she requested. I happily obliged.
Friend, I know it’s easier said than done to ask the Lord to fill your broken heart with His sustaining joy when you feel crushed and defeated. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the evidence of God’s gifts of grace, fulfilled promises, and trustworthy presence in the midst of your pain. Worldly happiness is temporary and circumstantial, but His joy is everlasting and unconditional.
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13
Nighttime Prayer
Heavenly Father, You know how crushed I feel when I get overwhelmed by storms in life that seem to have no end in sight. I’m struggling to keep my eyes fixed on You instead of the hardship I am experiencing right now. But I don’t want to let these struggles rule my emotions. I ask You to open my eyes to the evidence of the grace-filled gifts You have placed in my path and remind me of Your faithfulness and unwavering promises. Fill me with Your sustaining joy through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, that I might abound with hope and experience Your peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Questions for Reflection:
- Do you struggle to experience the joy of the Lord when weighed down by crushing circumstances?
- What gifts of God’s grace and work in your life can you look to when joy is hard to come by?
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Join the Conversation: Are you praying for relief from a dark season, longing for a glimpse of His joy? Share your reflections in the comments section. I’d love to pray for you!
*This devotional was published on Crossmap.com as part of the Daybreak Devotions series.
