“No man can live without joy.” —Thomas Aquinas
“I have known many dead waiting to die.”—Ann Voskamp
Some existences appear alive on the outside but are hollow inside. Bodies move, words are spoken, responsibilities are met—but the soul has quietly shut down. This could be called a form of death long before the grave.
Joy is not a luxury for the strong; it is a necessity for the living.
When joy is absent for too long, something within us begins to wither. Hope erodes. Vision narrows. Gratitude fades. We do not stop breathing—but we stop living. Many learn to survive pain by numbing desire, silencing expectation, and burying joy altogether. What begins as protection slowly becomes a prison.
The enemy of our souls does not need to destroy our bodies if he can extinguish our joy.
The Joy of the Lord
Yet Scripture reminds us that “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Joy is not the denial of suffering—it is the evidence that suffering does not have the final word. It is strength infused into weakness. Life breathed back into weary hearts.
Jesus Himself said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Abundant life is not measured by ease but by aliveness—by a soul still capable of receiving, responding, and rejoicing in God’s presence.
Joy returns when we dare to feel again. When gratitude opens our eyes to grace. When we allow God to resurrect what has grown quiet within us.
Today, ask yourself honestly: Am I fully alive—or merely waiting to die?
God does not call us to endure life without joy. He calls us out of the grave while we are still breathing. Even in sorrow and loss, He offers a joy that does not erase pain—but redeems it.
Choose life today. Choose joy. Not because circumstances demand it—but because your soul was created for it.
You might also like these articles...
Accepting Affection
It is difficult for some people to accept affection. There are those that struggle with accepting affection on the surface, beneath the surface or both. Relationships deteriorate when affection is given but not received. This can happen with spouses, between parents and children, with siblings, and in a variety of other relationships. It is possible…
Vanguard ’24 Report
Last month, people from throughout the USA and Canada converged in Austin, Texas, for Apostolic Moral Purity’s 2nd annual Vanguard Conference. The conference kicked off with a powerful opening session, “Set Free to Be Free,” delivered by UPCI General Superintendent David Bernard. This session set the tone for the rest of the event. The emphasis of…
I Love You Too!
I Love You Too! Within most relationships, one person is the primary initiator, and the other is the responder. For example, in the area of affection, one spouse says, “I love you,” and the other spouse responds by saying, “I love you, too.” The initiating spouse will reach out their hand first, and the other…