The Joy

This morning I woke up singing:

“I’m trading my sorrow, I’m trading my pain, I’m laying it down for the joy of the Lord.”That old worship song has been looping in my head ever since.

Life has a way of handing us heavy things: sorrow, pain, shame, weariness. Some days we carry them quietly, without even realizing how much weight we are dragging behind us. But this song reminds me of a powerful invitation; an invite that God extends again and again: Lay it down. Trade it in. Let Me carry what you cannot.

The joy of the Lord is not surface-level happiness or a fake smile we put on to look strong. It is a deep, unshakable gladness rooted in knowing who God is: faithful, present, and in control even when we are not. 

Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us that “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” It’s not just a nice idea, it is a source of power. When we feel weak, discouraged, or overwhelmed, it is His joy that lifts our eyes and helps us stand.

This joy does not come from perfect circumstances. It comes from trusting a perfect Savior.

When we choose to say, “Yes, Lord,” like the song's chorus, we are doing more than singing, we are surrendering. We are letting go of what weighs us down, and opening our hands to receive what only He can give. Peace. Strength. Joy.

So today, and everyday, I’m making that trade. How about you? Hand Him the sorrow, the pain, the questions, the heaviness, and receiving the joy He has promised. A joy that is real. A joy that lasts.

Yes, Lord.