Choosing Defiant Joy

I recently watched an interview with author, Carol Burton McLeod, who threw out the term “defiant joy”. She said that as Christ-followers, we have available to us a kind of joy that defies our circumstances. Defiant. What an interesting word to put in front of joy. After all, if I’m defiant, then I’m resistant, obstinate and uncooperative. Those aren’t very flattering words to describe my character…unless! Unless it describes my undaunted resolve to remain joyful in the midst of heart-crushing, cry-in-a-dark-corner circumstances. 

Defiant joy.

As we head into the holiday season, let’s grab hold of this concept with a white-knuckled grip and refuse to let go until it invades every cell of our being. I wonder if you find yourself today in the middle of a cry-in-a-dark-corner circumstance. I want you to know that I’ve been in that place too. That place that feels so hopeless tears won’t stop running. That place where God’s presence can’t be felt to comfort a weary heart. That place that threatens to paralyze and render helpless a mighty servant of God.

Defiant joy.

It’s there with you in that dark corner. What you must understand is that your enemy, the devil, wants to steal it. He knows that joy is your strength. If he can convince you to give it up, he can weaken you. How bruised and beat up he leaves you depends on how long you choose to remain in your dark thoughts. That’s why you must resist him. How do you resist?

Defiant joy.

Your job is to stomp your feet on the ground of your circumstance and become uncooperative with any thought telling you to give in to hopelessness, bitterness, and loneliness. Next, you open your mouth and begin praising and thanking God with whatever words you can utter. I like to put on worship music to help me form my words. The Bible tells us that God makes himself at home in our praises (Psalm 22:3). When you begin to praise, the Light of the world enters into your dark corner. Defiant joy chooses to ramp up praise and thanksgiving, being absolute certain that God is at work to make beauty rise from the ashes of your circumstance.

Christians are not “Mary Poppins with a Bible”, as Ms. McLeod said. “We are people who live in the trenches of life and come out with the gift of joy.” She gives this encouragement, “If you have led a circumstantially unhappy life, you are not immune to joy. You are actually a great candidate for joy because joy is regardless of your circumstances.”

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). So as you and I are faithful to study God’s Word and walk according to it, we can have confidence, knowing that joy will abound from our weary limbs. The joy of the Lord is your strength, Chosen and Crowned friend (Nehemiah 8:10! Defy your circumstance today with defiant joy!

Happy, Defiantly Joyful Thanksgiving!

Anna Frye is a speaker, author, television host and founder of the Chosen and Crowned tribe. She invites moms and wives to celebrate imperfect progress fueled by the grace of a perfect God. She helps women bravely talk about the messy places of life, instead of hiding shamefully under them. She believes that lasting beauty comes when women courageously surrender their ashes to God and allow him to do something mind-blowingly amazing with them. If this resonates with you, then you belong with the Chosen and Crowned tribe. Connect at www.ChosenAndCrowned.com/blog