For Your Heart Today

Joy, in Scripture, is never abstract or detached from real life. It is not an emotion we are asked to manufacture, nor a spiritual concept we are expected to perform. Joy is personal because joy is found in a Person.

Advent reminds us that Jesus Himself is our joy. Not just the giver of joy, but the source of it. When joy feels fragile, when life feels cut back or uncertain, Scripture does not point us inward to try harder; it points us toward Christ. The One upon whom the Spirit rests. The One who delights in the Lord. The One who embodies joy even in a broken world.

Today’s invitation is not to chase joy, but to draw near to Jesus to trust that where He is present, joy can grow. Even quietly. Even slowly. Even now.

3 Takeaways on Joy

1. Joy is rooted, not rushed.

Isaiah reminds us that what looks cut down is not finished. God works from living roots, often long before we see visible growth.

2. Joy flows from delight in God.

Joy is not forced optimism or emotional override. It rises from intimacy—delighting in God and aligning our lives with His presence.

3. Joy is sustained through practice and community.

Joy grows as we cultivate posture, perspective, and practice—and sometimes, it is held for us by others until we are ready to receive it again.

Breath Prayer

Inhale: Jesus, You are my joy.

Exhale: I rest in Your delight.

Full Manuscript — Estimated Reading Time: 14–16 minutes