Hope That Hangs In There (Emmanuel: A Call to Hope, pt. 3)

This week, we reflected on the persistence of hope, how it is from hope that we derive a sense of joy even when we don’t feel it. For this week’s devotional, let’s explore that contradiction.

We already discussed how joy is an indication of hope realized—that when we experience our hope in tangible ways, it causes us joy. But what do we do when we see the reality of hope but don’t feel the reality of joy?

One of the first things we can do is remember that joy isn’t merely a feeling, although it’s meant to be felt. I love the words of Nehemiah 8:10, that “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” The interesting thing about strength is that you don’t necessarily feel it when you have it. Imagine lifting a book from a shelf. For most adults, that’s an easy task, but for a small child, lifting a large one might be difficult because it’s too heavy. They feel the strain and struggle with the size.

Joy can be a lot like that. When we struggle to hold onto the clutter and chaos of our lives, we feel that strain. What we often don’t sense is that amidst the strain, we find ourselves carrying some things we are fully capable of carrying with ease. Maybe we struggle to carry our familial relationships, but we do our jobs with absolute grace. Maybe we feel the pain of grief, but we feel the ease of singing songs in the car or even the choir loft.

The strength we show even in limited parts of our lives can be an indication that hope is still alive and well, that all is not lost, and that beneath the weight of life, we still have reason to rejoice.

As you go through your week, do not pursue feelings. Pursue strength. Pursue small victories. Revel in them. The Lord has gone before you and given them into your hand, and greater things are still to come.