Joy as Resistance: Finding Strength, Perspective, and Power in Biblical Joy
Pastor Victoria Sowell
When was the last time you truly felt joy—not a passing thrill or momentary happiness, but something deeper, something anchored? Joy like that isn’t fleeting. It doesn’t depend on your circumstances. It holds up under grief, stands steady through uncertainty, and remains when everything else feels like it’s falling apart.
That kind of joy isn’t natural—it’s supernatural. And it doesn’t start with us. It starts with the Word of God.
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When Conviction Leads to Celebration
Nehemiah 8 captures an emotionally raw and spiritually powerful moment: the people of God, having been exiled and broken, gather to hear Scripture read aloud. What starts as weeping ends in celebration. But it’s not because they were told to fake it or “cheer up.” Their tears were real. Their sorrow was heavy. And yet, something shifted.
“For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.” – Nehemiah 8:9 (NIV)
The Hebrew word used for “weeping” here is bakah (בָּכָה)—it’s not a quiet tear, it’s a deep, loud, lamenting cry. The kind that comes from realizing just how far off course life has gone. It’s grief over sin, over generational pain, over everything that was lost.
But God didn’t leave them there. The leaders said something radically unexpected:
“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)
This wasn’t a dismissive statement. It was a redirect. Conviction matters. It wakes us up. But condemnation is not God’s end goal. Conviction leads to repentance, and repentance opens the door to rejoicing. It’s not either/or. It’s both.
Joy That Strengthens, Not Distracts
Many know Nehemiah 8:10 as a verse to quote when things are tough. But in its context, it takes on even more weight. The joy described here—chedvah (חֶדְוהָ)—isn't surface-level. It’s rooted in God’s love, not in human effort or emotional highs. It’s relational joy. Joy that grows out of knowing you are seen, forgiven, and called.
Theologian Sam Storms put it this way:
"Joy is not the absence of suffering. It is the presence of God."
It’s not about having a pain-free life. It’s about having a God-full one.
So how does this work practically?
Open the Word of God daily, even briefly.
Let truth shape your inner world.
Repeat the promises of God out loud when fear or stress creeps in.
This isn’t about being “positive.” It’s about being anchored. When the joy of the Lord is your strength, no circumstance gets to decide your emotional stability.
Understanding Fuels Joy
Another powerful moment in Nehemiah 8 comes in verse 12:
“Then all the people went away to eat and drink... and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.” – Nehemiah 8:12 (NIV)
Understanding matters. The Hebrew word here is biyn (בִּין)—a word packed with meaning. It describes insight, discernment, and clarity. When God’s Word becomes more than just words on a page—when it clicks—joy follows.
Understanding allows us to shift our perspective:
From mourning to mission
From self-condemnation to Christ-centered freedom
From confusion to clarity
From fear of the future to confidence in God’s promises
Joy doesn't grow because life got easier—it grows because our perspective got clearer.
Is It Joy or Is It Just Cake?
Netflix’s “Is It Cake?” makes for a fun watch: bakers create hyper-realistic cakes that look like objects—shoes, phones, purses. The challenge? Figuring out what’s real and what’s just sugar.
The parallel to joy is striking. There are so many things in life that look like joy:
Vacations
Career success
Likes and followers
New clothes
Recognition
But they’re cake. Sweet for a moment, then gone. True joy is durable. It holds up when happiness wears off.
Ask these questions to tell the difference:
Is it God-given or self-generated?
Does it draw me closer to His presence?
Does it bring peace or just a temporary high?
Does it satisfy my soul or leave me wanting more?
Happiness is tied to happenings. Joy is tied to Jesus.
Joy Grows From Abiding, Not Achieving
In John 15, Jesus lays it out plainly. You want lasting fruit from your life? Stay connected to the vine.
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself… I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” – John 15:4, 11 (NIV)
The Greek word for “remain” is meno (μένω)—to dwell, stay, live in. Joy doesn’t come from trying harder. It comes from staying closer.
That means:
Staying in Scripture even when it feels dry
Staying in prayer even when it feels quiet
Staying in community even when it feels inconvenient
Staying in worship even when it feels hard
Joy isn’t a reward for striving. It’s the result of abiding.
Why Joy Feels So Hard Right Now
Let’s not pretend. Joy feels difficult these days.
The headlines are heavy.
Personal lives are stretched thin.
Mental and emotional exhaustion is real.
There’s a cultural obsession with reacting rather than rooting.
In a world that glorifies the latest trend or next crisis, joy seems impractical or naive. But that’s where biblical joy stands apart. It’s not about ignoring reality. It’s about trusting in a greater one.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” – Philippians 4:4 (NIV)
Scripture doesn’t ask us to feel joyful always—but to choose joy as a practice. As a rhythm. As a resistance to despair.
Joy might not be the loudest emotion in the room. But it’s the most resilient one.
Joy as a Public Testimony
In Nehemiah, joy was more than an emotion. It was a communal response. Their decision to rejoice didn’t just change their personal mood—it shaped their collective witness.
When we choose joy today—especially when we don’t feel like it—it speaks volumes:
It says God is still good.
It says hope still lives here.
It says Jesus is enough.
Joy becomes prophetic. It declares that our lives are not defined by headlines, heartbreaks, or hardships—but by a resurrected King who has overcome them all.
When people ask how you’re still standing, still hoping, still laughing—you get to tell them about the source. You get to point to a Savior.
How to Start Practicing Joy Today
Feeling stuck in sadness? Start small. Let these habits grow joy slowly but surely.
Read a short passage of Scripture daily. Even five minutes matters.
Speak the truth out loud. Remind yourself of God’s promises.
Worship when it’s hard. Sing over your situation.
Write down what God has done. Gratitude shifts perspective.
Invite others in. Joy grows in community.
You don’t have to manufacture anything. Just stay close to the Source.
Further Reading
Desiring God: “How to Fight for Joy” by John Piper
Christianity Today: “Joy is Resistance” by Esau McCaulley
Other Links
Want to hear more? Check out a past message by Pastor Victoria on joy and peace: Watch on YouTube
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