“Allow your loss to lead you into the Lord’s love.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – July 31, 2026
Joy has gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning. Lamentations 5:15
What happens when the joy is gone? It is no longer fun. What you are experiencing is not what you signed up for. A joyless state is not a good place to stay for long. It may be that you just lost a loved one suddenly and without warning. You grieve because of your tremendous loss, but their great gain is that they knew Jesus. It is not unusual for joy to rise from the ashes of your grief. Joy does come at dawn after the dark night of the soul. Your heart laments and longs for one more conversation and a warm embrace from the dear one departed to heaven. Joy comes when you know they are with Jesus.
Jesus and joy go hand in hand. He understands that joy comes from obedience and faithfulness to God’s call. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross and despised its shame (Hebrews 12:2). Consider Christ, His model of endurance and obedience, amid opposition and persecution. Do not grow weary and lose heart. The Lord is your lesson in joy. Jesus never lost sight of the bigger picture of hope for a better tomorrow. Hope ultimately leads to heaven. Just the thought of heaven’s hallelujahs brings a smile to the face of faith. Joy is set before us in the person of Jesus Christ, reigning on His throne of grace. It is imperative that we stay fixed on Him. Our faith flees when it loses perspective of the Prince of Peace. Joy is found in Jesus. He wrote the book on experiencing joy in the midst of misery.
Joy, at the very least, lies dormant within every disciple of Jesus Christ. Therefore, awaken it from its slumber if you have slipped into a joyless state. The Jesus who became your Savior at conversion is still the Lord of your life. Look to the Lord for an infusion of His eternal joy. Joy is found in His hope. Do not allow joy-killers to rob you of hope and peace. A naysayer will always be around to remind you of his reality. But a definition of reality without hope is wrong for the follower of Jesus Christ, as joy is embedded in hope. G.K. Chesterton draws a striking contrast in joy between believers and unbelievers: “Joy, which was the small publicity of the pagan, is the gigantic secret of the Christian.”
By God’s grace, reject the enemy’s joyless jabs. Instead, seek companions of Christ who are set on seeing Him for who He is. Jesus is a dispenser of joy. Yes, certain circumstances are joy-killers. Loss can logically lead to joylessness. However, within a community of faith, you can redirect this default toward disillusionment. Allow your loss to lead you into the Lord’s love. Navigate toward His lighthouse of love. Joy knows Jesus. You know His love; this is joy. You know His forgiveness; this is joy. You know His faithfulness; this is joy. You know His mercy; this is joy. Joy is not based on changing circumstances but on knowing an unchanging Christ. Seek Him in your sad state, and you will not have to search far for joy. When you find Jesus, you have found joy. Confusion will try to keep you from Christ, but a lack of joy motivates you to your Master. It is good to desire joy because such desire leads to authenticity with Almighty God. Make joy a juggernaut of obedience in your relentless pursuit of Him. Give joy in Jesus to the world. Giving joy brings joy. By the Spirit’s power, be a joyful giver of joy!
“Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, when grief steals my song, restore the joy of Your salvation. Anchor my heart in Christ, my unchanging joy. Help me give thanks and rest in heaven’s hope. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
Today, name one joy-killer, then surrender it to Jesus. Call a fellow believer who points you to Christ. Read one psalm of lament aloud, ending with deliberate praise. Choose joy.
Related Reading
Nehemiah 8:10; Isaiah 61:3; John 16:22; Romans 15:13
Worship Resource
Upper Room: He Knows My Name
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