One of my mom’s favorite choruses is,
J-O-Y, joy, joy in the Holy Ghost.
J-O-Y, joy, joy in the Lord.
Don’t let nobody steal your joy.
Don’t let nobody steal your joy.
Don’t let nobody steal your joy-y-y-y-y-y.
Joy in the Lord.

This chorus is appropriate for the times in which we live because so many things— pandemic, illnesses, financial hardships, discouragement, depression, low self-esteem, people, you name it—can steal our joy. However, this simple chorus is an excellent reminder to protect our joy. This notion of protecting our joy reminds me of the words from a familiar song, “This joy I have the world didn’t give it to me [and] the world can’t take it away” (Caesar, n.d.). In essence, we must be purposeful in protecting and maintaining our joy. 

Being purposeful in protecting and maintaining our joy requires that we hope in God. Hope is a small word, but its implications are profound. The dictionary notes, “Hope implies little certainty but suggests confidence or assurance in the possibility that what one desires or longs for will happen” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.).

In Psalm 42, the psalmist writes about a situation that stole his joy and led him into deep discouragement and depression; however, while relating the details of the situation, it is as if the psalmist had an epiphany or an aha moment, for he reasons with himself and finds the solution to the problem. “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?” I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 42: 5, NLT) The realization that he could hope in God, recall God’s continual presence in his life, and that he would have other opportunities to praise God was the antidote the Psalmist needed to protect and maintain his joy.

Like the psalmist, when we feel deeply discouraged and depressed and our joy is threatened, let us question our thoughts and feelings rather than accept or wallow in them. Let us reason with ourselves “Why am I discouraged or What is wrong with me? Why is my heart so sad? or Why am I feeling this way?” Then let us apply the psalmist’s antidote, “I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 42:5).