Joy Down in My Heart: Finding Joy Beyond Circumstances
- Morgan Benner
- a few seconds ago
- 4 min read
When I think of the word “joy,” my mind immediately goes to a musical book my daughter owns, where she pushes buttons and out blast the melodies of familiar songs in a high-pitched piano tone that can sometimes be a little too much as we’re trying to wind down for bedtime. As soon as I start to feel unnerved, that feeling dissipates as I watch her march around her room singing, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart,” followed by an even higher-pitched shout, “WHERE??” If you know the song, you know how shouting out the “Where?” can immediately lead to giggles.
As I watch her delay bedtime with her adorable dances and songs, I sit in the familiar chair in her room and my thoughts drift as I ask myself, “Do I really know where the joy in my life is?” If it’s another long day of work on top of finishing Christmas preparations, it’s easy to forget the joy this season brings. Whether you have small children at home or not, it’s easy to let our thoughts drift this way if we’re idle with them.
I have multiple people in my family who are going through incredibly difficult health challenges. Really difficult. As I’ve listened to them share about their suffering from chronic illnesses and potential diagnoses, it’s hard for even my optimistic mind to share hope in the middle of a conversation.
Oftentimes, when our circumstances are clouding the truth of God’s goodness, it can be hard to find joy. So as I reflect on how to balance the tension of suffering and joy, I find myself learning what it truly means to practice finding joy beyond circumstances. I have to show myself what joy actually is in order to truly understand it. Instead of assuming what joy is, I have to define what I’m trying to understand.
Scripture and trusted Bible teachers throughout history have echoed the truth of joy. In the Bible, joy (Greek: chara) means “a deep, supernatural gladness and delight in God.” Pastor John Piper describes joy this way: “Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as He causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the Word and in the world.”
Joy being deep in my soul and produced by the Holy Spirit means that I can receive and have joy regardless of the circumstances going on around me.
The best example we can always follow is our Lord and Savior, Jesus. God the Son left His place in heaven to step into suffering as a human, born as a baby. He descended to us because He knew that, in our own strength, we could not reach Him. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
Jesus came to show us how desperately we needed to be rescued from our ultimate suffering—the sin in us that separates us from God. While He walked on earth, He was surrounded by suffering that comes from sickness, sin, and death. He healed and shared truth with grace.
After 33 years, He took on ultimate suffering to reconcile us to the Father. But He didn’t do this in vain. We can look to Jesus in our pain and find deep joy within our souls when we remember who He is and what He has done for us. That joy is unshakable.
“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” — Hebrews 12:2 (NLT)
As you prepare this Advent season, remember that joy is more than a feeling; it’s a state of remembrance and is powered in us by the work of the Holy Spirit. If you are in desperate need of joy, pray with me the prayer of Saint Augustine: “Father, command what You will and grant what You command.”
FOR FURTHER THOUGHT
I understand that having joy during the holiday season can be incredibly difficult, especially if you’re walking through a season of grief, overwhelm, or exhaustion. Knowing now that joy is so much more than a feeling, I invite you to join me in practicing gratitude by writing down all the things we can thank God for as the year winds down. 2025 may not have looked the way you wanted, but because of the cross, we always have something to be thankful for. Write down one to two things a day until the end of the year that you can thank God for, and see how He is faithful to give you peace that surpasses all understanding.
PRAYER
Father, I thank You for the gift of what Christmas really means, and the Joy that came into the world. Thank you for not leaving us as orphans, but pursuing us to be reconciled to You. Thank you for the example from Jesus and the reminder that He had joy awaiting Him as He approached His greatest suffering for us. That joy included us being with You forever. Grant me this joy that I can hold onto this Christmas season when I need in. Amen.
ABOUT MORGAN BENNER
Morgan Benner is a woman transformed by faith, and if you had met her in the first 27 years of her life, you might not recognize her today. Jesus completely changed her, making her not just a different person but a new one. She now enjoys life with her best friend and husband, Derek, and their sweet three-year-old daughter, continually experiencing God’s love and growing in faith through her family. A creative at heart, Morgan uses her gifts to serve at her church—whether through video announcements, social media, small group leadership, or welcoming others into an encounter with Jesus. Professionally, she works as a Talent Acquisition Manager for a Fortune 500 company, a role that reflects her deep love for people. Known for meeting others right where they are, she is passionate about sharing the good news of the One who changed her life.
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