Joy
Finding Joy When Life Is Hard
By Cassie Littel · Adapted from her message “Joy Is Here”This Christmas was hard for me. There were challenges we’d already walked through that year, and new ones on top of them. I had to cling to the truth, and look for joy, more than ever.
Nehemiah 8:10 says, “This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Not just “don’t grieve.” Replace the grief with joy, and let it be your strength.
Joy came in the dark
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you” (Luke 2:11). Jesus was born in the darkest, coldest place, and it was still one of the greatest joys the world has known. God didn’t just build a road for us to come to Him. He became one of us to bring us home.
In our darkest hour, the greatest joy came.
Sitting in the dark
That week I went into our church sanctuary alone. It was pitch black, and I’m a little afraid of the dark. I sat down, put my favorite worship song on repeat, and didn’t turn the lights on. I just let it be sung over me. God met me there. He knows your address. He knows what you need.
What do you need more of?
Our first year of marriage, we found out we were having a baby. Not on our timeline. We were nervous. When we couldn’t agree on a name, I asked, “What do we need more of in our life?” We both said peace. So we named him Paxton. Pax means peace.
Later, walking into a cave in Bethlehem set up to show where Jesus was born, I looked down and saw “Pax” written on the steps. Peace. Right where the story of joy began.
Hold on to joy past Christmas
- Name the grief. Then ask God to replace it with His joy.
- Find a quiet place, even a dark one, and let worship be sung over you.
- Ask: what do I need more of? Pray for that by name.
- Remember that joy isn’t the absence of hard things. It’s Jesus with you in them.
About Cassie
Cassie Littel is a communicator, ministry leader, strategist, and mom of four. She speaks and writes about faith that works on Monday.
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