Defiant Joy

A few years back—well, maybe more than a few—when I was still going to the gym, I walked in and passed by an older gentleman who was incredibly in shape, barrel-chested, and unmistakably manly. Some might even say he was an intimidating figure. We exchanged the usual “Good morning, how you doing?” kind of greeting. When I said, “So far, so good,” he replied in his deep voice, “Great. Don’t let anyone take that away from you.”

All I could muster was, “Yes sir!”

That moment has stuck with me for years, and it resurfaced again today as I listened to a sermon.

In the sermon, Matt Chandler talked about something he called “defiant joy.” It was a phrase he borrowed from a friend—so I’m borrowing it from the borrower. What he meant by it is simple but powerful: my circumstances don’t get the final say. I can walk in the joy of the Spirit despite what I’m facing. I can stand firm, look my circumstances in the eye, and choose joy anyway.

Hebrews 10:23–24 says:
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.”

Holding fast to hope isn’t passive. It’s an active choice—sometimes a daily one—not to hand over the joy God has already given us, no matter what tries to shake it loose. And Hebrews reminds us that we’re not meant to do this alone. We get to encourage one another toward love, toward good works, and toward that same resilient joy.

So today, I’m choosing not to let anyone—or anything—take that away. And maybe that’s the invitation for you, too.