Part 4 of 5: Standing Firm in the Battle - 6 Voices. 5 Topics. One goal—endure in faith, joy, and truth

Cultivating Joy When Life Is Hard

Cultivating Joy When Life Is Hard

Welcome to Part 4 of our 5-part series, "Standing Firm in the Battle." In this series, sixSix believers are sharing how they remain rooted in Christ through temptation, warfare, waiting, and hardship. In Part 3, we heard how each contributor perseveres in seasons of waiting, trusting God when the answers don’t come quickly. If you missed it, you can read part 3 here.

Today, we turn to the topic of joy—not the kind that comes when life is easy, but the kind that holds firm in suffering. What does it look like to walk in joy when life is falling apart? How do we access the strength of God when our own strength is gone? Our contributors offer their insights, Scriptures, and testimonies of joy in the midst of trial.

How Do You Cultivate Joy When Life Is Hard?

Dan Blincoe

Too often, we treat joy like a reward for when life finally smooths out. We chase it, hoping our circumstances will change, hoping the storm will pass. But joy is not the end of the road. It is the companion on the journey. Real joy is not found on the other side of the mess. It is found in the middle of it. It grows from knowing God, not knowing about Him, but knowing Him, right there in the ache, in the confusion, in the quiet places no one sees.

Joy does not rise and fall with circumstances. It does not vanish when emotions surge or people disappoint you. Because joy is not a mood. It is not some fleeting high. It is a person. It is Jesus. Christ in you, the hope of glory. And if He is in you, then joy is too, even when everything feels like it is unraveling.

When the world is crumbling and you still choose to lift your eyes, that is joy. When you feel like you're breaking, but you sing anyway because He is still worthy, that is joy. Not denial. Not pretending everything is fine. But a fierce, clear-eyed trust that says, "God gets the final word." Not pain. Not fear. Not the chaos of the moment. Him. He has not changed. He is still good. He is still near. And joy says, "I see what is happening, but I know who my Father is."

You do not find joy by chasing a feeling. You find it by remembering who you are and who He is. Joy flows naturally from that place, even through tears. Paul did not sing in prison because the stone floor was comfortable. He rejoiced because Jesus was real to him, right there in the dark (Philippians 4:4). That is why the Scriptures say the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). It is not your joy you are leaning on. It is His. And He is never discouraged, never shaken, never burned out.

You do not manufacture that kind of joy. You receive it in intimacy. You talk to Him. You breathe. You remember His promises. You give thanks when there is no reason to. That is how faith wakes up. And where faith lives, joy begins to rise. Maybe not because anything changed around you, but because something shifted in you. You remembered who you are. You remembered you are not alone. Not abandoned. You are a son. You are a daughter. You are loved.

So when the hard days come, and they will, do not just ask, "How do I survive this?" Ask, "Who is God forming me into right now?" Let joy shape you. Let it teach you how to hurt without hardening. Let it keep your fire alive when the world tempts you to go numb. Let it be louder than the fear in your mind. Because joy is not what comes when the battle ends. It is what walks with you through the fight (John 16:22).

So go ahead and rejoice. Not because life is simple. But because God is with you. That is joy. And nothing, not even the hardest night, can steal that from you (Romans 15:13).

Steven Galatioto:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3

For ten years, I fought a battle with the bottle—a fight that left me desperate, hopeless, and full of regret. When I finally got sober, I wasn’t exactly “jumping with joy.” At the time, all I could see was the wreckage of my past. But when I surrendered my life to Jesus, everything changed. My suffering—my addiction—was no longer meaningless. God used it as a testimony. Suddenly, I found myself at Celebrate Recovery, walking alongside other men in the trenches of addiction.

They trust me not because I emerged from battle unscathed, but because they recognize my scars. They see someone who has been through the fire and survived. My wounds tell them, “You’re not alone, and God can do for you what He did for me.”

But how do you cultivate joy when life is still hard? How do you find peace when the storm hasn’t passed yet?

1. Shift from “Why Me?” to “What Does This Mean?”

• Instead of asking, “Why, God?” try, “God, what are You teaching me through this?”

• Practice gratitude in small moments—when you lose your keys or get a flat tire, pray:

• “Thank You, God, for all You do. Give me wisdom to see meaning in this.”

• Set a phone reminder to build the habit of quick, thankful prayers throughout the day.

2. Reframe Challenges as Opportunities

• Hardship is training ground for faith (-Romans 5:3-4).

• Ask: How can I grow? Who can I help with what I’m learning?

• Even setbacks can be setups for God’s greater purpose.

3. Surround Yourself with Joyful People

• Community matters. Being around faith-filled people lifts your spirit.

• Join a small group, church ministry, or recovery group where hope is shared.

4. Worship Even When You Don’t Feel Like It

• Worship isn’t just for good days—it’s a weapon for tough days.

• When life feels heavy, put on worship music and sing anyway.

5. Trust That God is Always Working

• Even when you don’t see it, He is moving.

• Hold onto Romans 8:28: “In all things, God works for the good of those who love Him.”

When you treasure the love of God and recognize what He’s doing in your life, finding the silver lining becomes easier. Sometimes, it’s even blinding—the way He works things out in ways you never expected. Even if you can’t see it yet, trust that He will.

Cole Nielsen:

Sometimes it feels as if our “tears have been (our) food day and night, while others say to (us) all day long, ‘Where is your God?’” (Psalm 42:3). Moans of bereavement barely escape our lips, “I used to go along with the throng, and lead them in procession to the house of God, with the sound of a sound of joy and thanksgiving... Why are you in despair, O my soul?” (Psalm 42:4). Grief floods the depths of our being so astoundingly that our "soul refuse(s) to be comforted" (Psalm 77:2), and we are "so troubled that (we) cannot speak" (Psalm 77:4). In times such as these, joy feels as foreign as a melodious song in the midst of a cemetery.

Just how could we ever experience happiness again? We can't help but feel that "Surely, I will go down to Sheol in mourning" (Genesis 37:35). Nevertheless, the promises of God cut through the pain as a gentle whisper, "He will wipe away every tear from (our) eyes... there will no longer be any mourning, crying, or pain" (Revelation 21:4). How can we wipe our eyes, though, if we aren't in His arms? How can He melt our troubles if we aren't in the warmth of His chest? "The fruit of (His) Spirit is... joy" (Galatians 5:22), and unless I'm resting against the Spirit's heart, how can I feel the joy which pulses out of it? What does it take to step into the joy of God's embrace?

Christ told us "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (John 15:7), and that this was said "so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full" (John 15:11). Abiding in Christ through His word will fill your joy, because His words "are Spirit and life" and "The Spirit is the One who gives life" and His fruit is joy.

Haven't you felt the soothing and rejuvenating embrace of a spouse or a loved one after a long day? Their words of love and encouragement melting all the memories of toil away as if they'd never existed. How much sweeter is it, to sit and communicate with our Savior? My soul may anguish but He tells me, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness" (Jeremiah 31:3) my heart melts, and my soul is revived. As we talk, I can't help but feel as if He is "like an apple tree among the trees of the forest... In His shade I (have) great desire, and (sit) down, and His fruit (is) sweet to my taste" (Song of Songs 2:3). How can I fellowship in the presence of God and feel any more grief? Him whose being is joy, whose fountain pours forth delight, and whose river runs with peace. Let us run into Him, let us devour His word letting Him nourish our souls.

Janet Abadir:

Last summer, after enduring a fiery trial of injustice, I was angry for two weeks. I felt very justified in my anger because my pride had been injured. I had a hard time praying, other than to ask for swift vindication. The imprecatory psalms were my favorite, and I was hoping God would do some smiting on my behalf.

I remember reading Psalm 37 and weeping because I could not imagine those words were true for me. I parked myself in Psalm 37 and kept reading it with tears, asking God to show me the invisible reality of His kingdom and intervene in my situation.

Finally, the breakthrough came and God gave me the healing, repentance, and assurance I needed. In a word, it was meekness. I saw the beauty of meekness, and I was changed.

Meekness has two aspects. The first is the belief that God's Word is true—the supreme source of all wisdom, and the exclusive absolute Truth against which all other claims are weighed. Everything God says about me is true, both the good things and the terrible things. I am deeply loved, and I am sinful by nature. I am precious to God, and I am powerless to save myself. My heart is deceitful above all other characteristics and desperately wicked, and I cannot know my own heart, but God does. God is patient with rebellious sinners, and He offers His wisdom freely to those who will receive it with meekness, like soft soil receiving a seed down below the surface. I deserve God's wrath, and I receive mercy instead through Jesus.

The second aspect of meekness is patiently waiting for God's vindication. Jesus demonstrated this in 1 Peter 2:23: "When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly." Instead of rising up in self-defense, I can wait for God to vindicate me in His timing, and in His way. I can repent when I envy evildoers, or when I fret, because God is trustworthy and true, and He is watching over me.

Psalm 37 has a lot of references to delight and meekness. "But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace" (Psalm 37:11). People who inherit the land are: those blessed by the LORD, the righteous, those who turn from evil and do good, those exalted by God because they waited for Him. God will be a refuge and a deliverer to them because they trust in Him alone.

How can you delight yourself in the LORD? Look at Jesus' humility and meekness, and celebrate this fruit of repentance, trials, and suffering. You will find yourself caring for others instead of comparing yourself to others. You will have compassion and empathy for others, instead of competing and controlling. You will find rest in Christ instead of being resentful when your way is difficult. Waiting for vindication will be easier, because you now understand how Christ is waiting for his enemies to finally be put under His feet (Psalm 110:1).

Meekness is knowing that the final victory is certain, and all wickedness will be judged on that great and terrible day of the LORD. God is the desire of your heart and your portion forever, so treasure Him today with joy as you read Psalm 37 again.

Eric Mattie:

Cultivating joy in the hard season of life is like cultivating the desert rose.

Do you know about the desert rose? It’s a slow growing plant native to Africa, Middle East and Madagascar. It’s known to be drought tolerant. It has a modified stem or root that stores water and nutrients called a caudex. This allows it to survive in long periods of drought. In its life time this can grow to a strong 3 to 4 foot plant. When the desert rose is watered, there is a caution to water it thoroughly, but not soaking it and to allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again. Overwatering can become dangerous, leading to root rot or a mushy caudex. In fact, it thrives in dry arid land with full exposure to the sun for around 6 plus hours.

Watering the desert rose

Like water, joy can be scarce in the hard times of drought. That means our joy must be deeper stored in our soul, than mere circumstantial happiness and mindful contentment or gratitude.

There are times that hearing the sweet promises of God’s word during trials, can feel like platitudes and can actually work against someone waiting on God. An over saturated soil of godly advice, wisdom and even the inspired word itself, can fall on a soil not ready to thrive.

Cultivating joy in hardships may take seasons of waiting and going deeper with the Lord. (See Psalm 27:14 ) Certain watering of truth and exposure to light of that truth might be specialize in your trials, like the desert rose.

Special cultivating required

If that’s the case for you, then your joy will be hard to come by alone. What you need is someone outside of yourself that help cultivate God-inspired joy in you.

God’s word says:

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. — Proverbs 27:17, NIV

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. — Proverbs 17:17, NIV

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. — Proverbs 27:9, NIV

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. — Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NIV

Find friends who encourage your heart and ease your burdens.

Choose the right friends to help you with joy. In hard seasons. Look for friends who are the encouragers; the ones who are burden lifters, prayer warriors and the ones that make you laugh.

They are the friends who help you laugh and not take life too seriously. When you are throwing a pity party, they are the ones that don’t bring party favors and dive in with you. They are the ones who will listen, but remind you of the Truth that sets you free and speaks to God on your behalf for joy and perseverance.

For those who are Desert Roses, click here to be encouraged by song.

Boma:

…for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10, KJV)

Growing up, the Bible verse, "In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you", has to be one of the Bible verses I heard my father quote the most. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Sometimes, I wanted to scream, "I know, but I don't want to hear it now!"

Now I see that there's wisdom in heeding God's word every time.

The joy of the Lord, truly, is your strength — even in hard places.

For the Christian, joy is an expression of the Holy Spirit within us.

But the fruit of the Spirit is… joy…. (Galatians 5:22, KJV)

We cannot walk in disobedience to God's word and expect to know this expression of the Holy Spirit.

The Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is to follow is an old gospel song that is still true, even today.

Also, to trust and obey is still the only way to be happy in Jesus.

If you'd let go of the reins, breathe, and just follow, you might find that those hard places are a bit more traversable.

Our call is simple—

Deny yourself, and take up your cross daily, and follow Jesus. (Luke 9:23)

We know that, as Christians, our path is not an easy one to travel. It is strait and narrow, and fraught with enemies bent on undoing us. (Matthew 7:14); (Ephesians 6:12)

But we are not alone.

The Lord knows the way through the wilderness and He is with us always.

Let Him lead you and you will find joy.

Rest in the truth that He has a plan for your life and He is working it out.

Live in anticipation of the manifestation of this plan — it will be a work of beauty and wonder!

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4, KJV) —We've been told when God says something twice, we need to hear it that much!

Today, trust in the Lord with all your heart. Be anxious for nothing but pray about everything. Keep your eyes open and expect to see Him work on your behalf. Honor Him in all things and thank Him for situations that don't align with your hopes, believing He knows best.

Then do it all again tomorrow.

One day you too will say, "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream". (Psalm 126:1)

Aren't you excited for this!?!

Coming Up in Part 5

In our final post, each contributor will offer closing thoughts and personal takeaways from the series. What has God taught them about endurance, spiritual warfare, and remaining faithful? Don’t miss this powerful wrap-up to "Standing Firm in the Battle."

Stay tuned for Part 5: Final Reflections — Pressing On in the Battle.

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