Joy and happiness are often confused, yet they couldn’t be more different. Happiness is fleeting, tied to circumstances, while joy is a profound, enduring gladness rooted in something far deeper. True joy, the kind that holds up under life’s pressures, begins with two key practices: remembrance and honest vulnerability before God.
Psalm 126 offers a guide to cultivating this kind of joy. It begins by recalling a time when God restored the fortunes of His people:
“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.”
The first step to joy is remembrance—actively recalling what God has done. For the Israelites, it was freedom from exile, a reminder of God’s faithfulness even when everything seemed lost. For us, it might be the ways God has carried us through personal struggles, answered prayers, or shown grace in unexpected moments.
Yet, in the busyness of life, it’s easy to forget. When was the last time you paused to reflect on what God has done for you? Take a moment today to remember. Not just the obvious blessings, but the deeper ways He’s shaped your heart, provided in your need, or drawn you closer to Him.
The second step is bringing your desires honestly before God. Psalm 126:4 says, “Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev.” This prayer is raw, asking for God to pour out His renewal on a parched and weary spirit.
Many of us hesitate to bring our wants to God, feeling the need to “clean up” our requests or make them sound more spiritual. But God doesn’t want a polished version of you—He wants the real you. He already knows your heart, so why not approach Him with your true desires? Tell Him what you need. Ask for healing, growth, or provision. Lay your burdens down without fear.
Finally, the psalm reminds us that joy coexists with hardship. “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” Life is not free from pain, but joy takes root when we trust God’s faithfulness in the past, lay our desires before Him in the present, and hold onto the hope of future restoration.
This Christmas, the world offers cynicism. God offers joy—a joy grounded in His promise of eternal life. Embrace a rhythm of remembrance, bring your desires honestly before Him, and let gratitude carry you through. Joy is not fragile; it is a gift sustained by the One who never fails.
