Joy is our resilience. Joy is why we stay alive. Joy is why we believe. Joy is what waits for us when we rest. So joy is precious, and joy is resilient, and as vulnerable as it feels, we do not have to manufacture our own joy, because it is the joy of the Lord that shall be our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

As much as we can make and partake in joy, I think the deepest truth is that joy is a spiritual discipline. Joy is most important to cherish, cultivate, and nourish when we most feel like we do not deserve joy or there is no joy to be found.

— God Didn't Make Us to Hate Us by Lizzie McManus-Dail (35%)