“You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.” – Psalm 30:11
Joy is at the heart of our life in Christ. It is not just a feeling we chase but the very foundation of our faith. Alexander Schmemann once wrote that joy is not an extra piece of Christianity—it is its very tone, permeating everything. This is an essential truth for us as pastors and churches, especially when we face struggles, transitions, and deep discouragement.
So often, we think of joy as something that comes after the hardship – after the problem is fixed, after the burden is lifted. But Scripture tells us a different story. Jesus said, “Abide in me… that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). This joy doesn’t ignore sorrow, but it refuses to be defined by it. It is the kind of joy that sings in the midnight prison cell, like Paul and Silas (Acts 16). It is the kind of joy that comes not from pretending everything is fine but from trusting that, even in pain, Christ is making all things new.
In life and ministry, we carry many burdens—our own and those of our loved ones. We see suffering, division, and uncertainty. It is easy to let discouragement take root. But joy is an act of defiance. It is a witness to the resurrection, a proclamation that sin and death do not have the last word. Joy is not an escape; it is a way of living in hope, even when the world is broken.
This kind of joy is cultivated through worship, friendship, and rest. Worship reorients our hearts toward Christ, reminding us of the greater story we are part of. Friendship keeps us grounded and encouraged. Sabbath rest teaches us that we are not the saviors of the world—God is.
I encourage you: choose joy. Not a shallow, feel-good happiness, but the deep, abiding joy that comes from knowing Christ. The world needs to see a church that does not live in despair but in the confidence that one day, as Julian of Norwich wrote, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”
May we be a people who proclaim that truth—not just with our words, but with the way we live and love.
