False Joy Falls Silent, True Joy Rises

January 23

Week Four: Waiting Is Trust

“But all who are left shout and sing for joy. Those in the west praise the Lord’s majesty. In eastern lands, give glory to the Lord. In the lands beyond the sea, praise the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

We hear songs of praise from the ends of the earth, songs that give glory to the Righteous One! But my heart is heavy with grief. Weep for me, for I wither away. Deceit still prevails, and treachery is everywhere.” Isaiah‬ ‭24‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The world often tells us that happiness is the goal. We hear it in everyday language: “As long as my kids are happy,” or “I just want to enjoy life.” Happiness becomes the measuring stick of success, meaning, and fulfillment.

But Isaiah speaks into a very different reality.

In Isaiah 24, the noise of false celebration fades. The systems, pleasures, and self-made joys of the world fall quiet. Yet in the midst of that silence, something unexpected rises, a deeper song, a truer joy. It is not rooted in circumstance or comfort, but in the glory and faithfulness of God.

False joy is fragile. It depends on things going our way. It leans on escape, excess, distraction, or control. When hardship comes, and it always does, that joy collapses under the weight it was never meant to carry.

True joy is different. Peter describes it as a joy “inexpressible and full of glory.” It exists even when life is hard. It carries peace through uncertainty. It is sustained not by what we feel, but by who we trust.

True joy is not the absence of struggle. It is the presence of God within it.

Waiting teaches us this distinction. When we wait, false joy is stripped away. What remains is either emptiness or trust. And in that space, God invites us into something deeper, a joy rooted in salvation, anchored in hope, and carried by faith.

The world may chase happiness, but God offers joy that endures.

Practice

Notice today where you seek happiness instead of joy. When things don’t go as planned, pause and ask: what am I really trusting to hold me steady? Offer that place to God and ask Him to replace fragile happiness with enduring joy.

Prayer

Father God, thank You for a joy that does not fade when life becomes hard. Teach us to wait well, to trust deeply, and to anchor our hearts in You.

Replace false joy with true joy, joy that rises from knowing You, trusting You, and resting in Your salvation. Amen.