Joy, like faith, feels real when we experience it. We tend to think of joy as something that happens to us—a response to good circumstances, a reward when life goes our way. But that kind of happiness is fragile, tied to the moment, and slips away as quickly as it arrived.

Joy isn’t something we chase, a prize we earn or a feeling we manufacture. But in reality, joy is a by-product—a natural overflow of a life lived in alignment with truth, gratitude, and faith. It arises not from circumstance, but from the quiet assurance that even in the ordinary, the messy, or the painful, life is infused with meaning and hope.

Nehemiah reminds us, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” This joy isn’t circumstantial—it often comes as a by-product of how we choose to live our lives and perceive our circumstances.

The stories I share around this theme range from people who chose joy when every reason seemed to point in the opposite direction to seeing joy in moments we too often take for granted (such as the dog laying at your feet). Joy can and should be found in all our seasons: pain, loss, even disappointments. It’s not natural but it is supernatural.

Mitch Bakker invites us to reflect on joy—not as a fleeting feeling, but as a posture of the heart. A strength that endures in both good times and hard times.

Learn more at mitchbakker.com, and get a copy of Mitch's book, Drawn.