Joy in the Dark: Finding Real Joy Before the Light Breaks Through

Pastor Reed Sowell

Joy is often treated like a reward. Something you arrive at once circumstances improve, prayers are answered, or life settles down. But the story of Advent tells a different truth. Joy does not wait politely on the other side of resolution. It shows up early. It appears in the middle of waiting, uncertainty, and darkness. It does not deny pain, but it refuses to be ruled by it. This kind of joy is not fragile, and it does not disappear when things feel heavy. It is sturdy, grounded, and deeply connected to who God is rather than what life looks like. Click the link above for the full message.

The Advent season centers on the arrival of Jesus, but it also teaches something subtle and necessary. Long before fulfillment came, joy was already present. People rejoiced before circumstances changed, before clarity arrived, before the promise fully took shape. This is not accidental. It reveals that joy is not the result of getting what we want, but the result of trusting who God is. Advent joy invites us to live differently, especially when life feels dim.

Advent Joy Is Not the Same as Happiness

Happiness and joy are often used interchangeably, but Scripture treats them as very different experiences. Happiness tends to rise and fall with circumstances. It is emotional and reactive. When something good happens, happiness follows. When something painful happens, it quickly fades. Joy, however, operates on an entirely different level.

Biblical joy is not dependent on outcomes. It is not a fleeting emotion but a settled posture. Joy is rooted in the character and faithfulness of God. It is a state of contentment that can exist alongside grief, confusion, and longing. This is why joy can feel surprising when it shows up in hard seasons.

Advent highlights this difference clearly. The joy of this season does not wait for everything to be resolved. It shows up while people are still waiting. It is anchored in trust, not results. That kind of joy feels quieter, but it lasts longer.

Why Waiting Is Not the Enemy of Joy

Waiting is usually framed as the obstacle standing between us and joy. Once the waiting ends, then joy can begin. Advent flips that assumption upside down. In the Advent story, joy is actually anchored in the waiting, not the getting.

The anticipation itself becomes a source of joy because it is filled with hope. When waiting is shaped by trust in God’s promises, it becomes meaningful rather than miserable. The expectation of what God will do brings joy into the present moment.

This is why Advent joy arrives early. It shows up before the promise is fulfilled because it is rooted in the belief that God is faithful. Joy grows in the soil of expectation, not certainty. When waiting is infused with trust, it becomes a place where joy can live.

A Picture of Anticipation That Feels Familiar

Advent calendars offer a surprisingly helpful picture of how this kind of joy works. Each small door represents anticipation rather than fulfillment. The excitement builds not because everything has been received, but because something is coming.

The joy is strongest before the gift is fully enjoyed. Once the door is opened and the prize is revealed, the excitement begins to fade. That does not make the gift less meaningful, but it shows where anticipation holds power. The waiting carries its own joy.

This rhythm mirrors the way God often works in our lives. Joy does not disappear once promises are fulfilled, but it is often most alive in the season of expectation. We experience joy now, and we look forward to even more joy later. Both can coexist.

Joy Now and Joy Still to Come

The birth of Jesus brought joy that changed the world. His life, death, and resurrection ushered the Kingdom of Heaven onto earth. Forgiveness became available. Hope became tangible. Restoration began. That joy is real and present now.

At the same time, Scripture is clear that more joy is still ahead. Jesus will return, and the fullness of His Kingdom will be revealed. Justice will be complete. Healing will be final. Brokenness will end. This future joy does not cancel present joy. It strengthens it.

This is the unique rhythm of Advent joy. It is joy here and now, even in unfinished places, paired with the promise of greater joy ahead. The darkness does not get the final word, but neither does waiting steal joy from today.

Light That Breaks Through Darkness

Centuries before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah spoke into a season of deep uncertainty. God’s people were worn down by constant threat and national turmoil. They lived under the weight of fear and instability. Into that darkness, Isaiah wrote words that still resonate today:

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
Isaiah 9:2 (NIV)

These words were written nearly 700 years before Jesus arrived. At the time, things did not immediately improve. In fact, they became more difficult before they became better. Yet Isaiah spoke with confidence. Light was coming, and joy was already breaking through.

This passage reveals something essential. Joy does not wait for darkness to disappear. It cuts through it. Even a glimpse of future light is enough to bring joy into the present moment.

Joy Anchored in Promise, Not Visibility

Isaiah’s confidence did not come from what he could see. It came from what God had promised. Joy grows when trust outweighs fear. It emerges when faith is placed not in circumstances but in God’s faithfulness.

Joy anchored in promise remains steady even when conditions feel unstable. It refuses to be dictated by the moment. Instead, it declares that God will make good on what He has said. That declaration becomes a powerful act of faith.

Choosing joy in hardship does not deny pain or minimize suffering. It simply places trust in something greater than what is currently visible. Joy says that darkness does not define the future.

Mary’s Joy Before Everything Changed

Few people embody this truth more clearly than Mary. When the angel Gabriel announced that she would give birth to the Messiah, her life became instantly complicated. She was young, unmarried, and vulnerable. Her reputation was at risk. Her future felt uncertain.

Yet after visiting her cousin Elizabeth, Mary responded not with fear, but with praise. Her words overflowed with joy:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.”
Luke 1:46–48 (NIV)

Mary’s joy arrived before anything was resolved. Joseph had not yet agreed to stay with her. Jesus had not yet been born. Her social standing had not been restored. Still, joy filled her heart.

Joy That Does Not Ignore Reality

Mary’s joy did not come from naivety. She understood the weight of what lay ahead. She knew the cost of obedience. She likely sensed that raising the Messiah would not be easy or safe.

Her joy was anchored in God’s faithfulness, not in an idealized future. She trusted that God was good, even if the road ahead would be difficult. That trust allowed joy to coexist with uncertainty.

This kind of joy does not require everything to feel safe. It requires faith that God is present and purposeful, even when life feels fragile.

When Joy Is Given to the Least Expected

The announcement of Jesus’ birth did not go to kings, priests, or powerful leaders. It went to shepherds. Ordinary laborers. Socially marginalized people who lived outdoors and held little influence.

Luke records the moment clearly:

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’”
Luke 2:10 (NIV)

The message of joy was not reserved for the impressive or the elite. It was delivered to those who were nearby, humble, and often overlooked. This choice reveals something profound about the nature of joy.

Joy Is Near Because Jesus Is Near

The shepherds did not have to travel far or earn access. The sign was simple and close. A baby wrapped in cloths, lying in a manger. Joy arrived quietly and accessibly.

This moment shows that joy is not distant or complicated. It is as near as Jesus Himself. The shepherds responded immediately with faith, worship, and obedience. They went to see what God had revealed, and their lives were changed.

Joy does not require status, perfection, or preparation. It requires proximity to Jesus. When He is near, joy is near.

Joy Available to Everyone

The way Jesus entered the world sends a clear message. Joy is for all people. Not just the strong, the religious, or the successful. It is for the weary, the uncertain, and the overlooked.

Many people quietly believe that joy is something reserved for others. They assume they are disqualified by their past, their doubts, or their current struggles. The Advent story dismantles that belief completely.

Jesus entered the world humbly and was announced to humble people to show that joy is not exclusive. It is freely given. No one is too broken or too ordinary to receive it.

When Life Feels Opposed to Joy

Most people can identify parts of their lives that bring joy. Relationships, meaningful work, moments of beauty, spiritual connection. At the same time, many carry burdens that seem to work directly against joy.

Unresolved pain, anxiety, loss, or disappointment can feel like constant resistance. In those moments, joy can feel unrealistic or even inappropriate. Scripture does not ignore that tension. It addresses it honestly.

The source of joy matters deeply. When joy is rooted in things that can change, it becomes unstable. When it is rooted in Jesus, it remains accessible even in the hardest seasons.

Joy That Shows Up in a Prison Cell

One of the clearest pictures of joy in darkness appears in the story of Paul and Silas. They were beaten, unjustly imprisoned, and physically restrained. Nothing about their situation suggested joy.

Yet Scripture tells us:

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”
Acts 16:25 (NIV)

Their joy did not wait for deliverance. It appeared in the middle of confinement. Their worship was not quiet or private. It overflowed into the space around them.

Joy Before the Breakthrough

The earthquake came later. The chains fell off later. The prison doors opened later. Joy came first. Their worship was not a reaction to freedom. It preceded it.

This matters because it shows that joy is not a tool to manipulate God. It is a response to who God is. Paul and Silas did not sing to earn deliverance. They sang because God was worthy, even in suffering.

Their joy illuminated the darkness of the prison and impacted everyone present. Even the jailer’s life was changed as a result.

The Ripple Effect of Joy

When the jailer realized what had happened, he was overcome with fear. Yet instead of escaping, Paul and Silas stayed. Their presence, marked by joy and compassion, opened the door to salvation.

“The jailer was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.”
Acts 16:34 (NIV)

Joy did not just sustain Paul and Silas. It transformed an entire household. This is the quiet power of joy rooted in God. It spills over and brings life to others.

Strength That Comes From Joy

Nehemiah 8:10 offers a simple but profound truth:

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (NIV)

Joy strengthens believers not because circumstances improve, but because God remains faithful. It provides resilience when endurance is required. It offers clarity when confusion is loud.

Strength rooted in joy does not depend on emotional intensity. It grows through trust and intimacy with God. Over time, joy becomes a steady source of strength rather than a fleeting feeling.

Joy Is a Fruit, Not a Performance

Scripture describes joy as a fruit of the Spirit, not a product of human effort. It grows naturally when lives are rooted in the presence of God. Galatians 5 reminds us that fruit is evidence of life, not strain.

An apple tree does not produce fruit by trying harder. It produces fruit because it is healthy and connected. In the same way, joy grows as time with Jesus increases.

Prayer, Scripture, and worship create space for the Spirit to work. Joy becomes a byproduct of relationship, not a demand placed on ourselves.

Choosing Joy Without Pretending

Choosing joy does not mean denying pain or forcing positivity. It means placing Jesus in His rightful place as Lord, even when life feels unfinished. Joy can exist alongside grief, questions, and healing still in progress.

This choice is not emotional manipulation. It is an act of trust. It says that God is good, even if everything feels incomplete. It allows joy to coexist with honesty.

Joy in the dark does not require pretending that darkness is not there. It simply refuses to let darkness define the story.

Living With Joy Right Now

Joy is not something to wait for once everything is fixed. It is a gift available now. Jesus is near, and because He is near, joy is accessible even in the middle of uncertainty.

The invitation of Advent is simple and profound. Receive joy now, and trust that more joy is still coming. Let joy illuminate places that feel trapped or heavy. Allow it to strengthen you and quietly shape the people around you.

Practical Invitations to Respond

• Consider where you have been waiting for circumstances to change before allowing joy.

• Reflect on what currently defines the source of your joy.

• Create space for prayer, worship, and Scripture this week without trying to force an outcome.

• Notice how joy, even in small ways, impacts the people around you.

Joy does not require perfect conditions. It requires proximity to Jesus.

Further Reading

• The Bible Project – “Joy” Theme Video
  https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/joy/
  A thoughtful exploration of biblical joy and how it differs from happiness, with rich theological insight.

• Desiring God – “How Can We Have Joy in Suffering?”
  https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-can-we-have-joy-in-suffering
  A biblically grounded article that explores how joy can exist alongside hardship and pain.

Other links

• Want to hear more? Check out last week’s message titled, “Peace Through the Promise”
  https://www.youtube.com/@ViewChurchWA

• Explore additional resources and studies
  https://www.viewchurch.co/resources