A Hard Fought Joy

Today’s post, in part, was delivered by me as part of a staff devo on Friday, September 11, 2025.

But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭32‬-‭39‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/heb.10.32-39.ESV

Yesterday I was talking with Olga, my counterpart at our processing center in Aurora, and we spent some time talking about hardfought joy.

What is hard fought joy?

Joy that hasn’t been handed to us easily, but fought for, prayed for, discovered, and sometimes clung to with both hands.

Hebrews 10 reminds us that the Christian life isn’t always easy. These believers had endured suffering, loss, and hardship. And yet, somehow, they continued to hold on to their confidence in Christ.

That’s hard fought joy.

It’s the joy we find in the middle of real life, not after everything gets fixed.

“You joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.” (Hebrews 10:34)

Joy isn’t the absence of suffering. We know suffering.

As Christians, especially in America, we tend to think that coming to faith in Christ means the rest of life is up and to the right. But, experience teaches us different. Being a Christian doesn’t make our lives easy or free of suffering. Being a Christian means we will walk through valleys. The good news is we don’t walk through them alone.

Hard fought joy is what God grows in us through suffering.

Sometimes we discover hard fought joy in the big moments. However, more often than not, we find it in the ordinary moments that remind us that life is still good, and more importantly, GOD IS GOOD.

Yes, life can be hard.
Yes, living out our faith can be hard.
Yes, grief impacts us.
But God is still here.
And there is still joy to be found.

Hebrews 10:35 says, “Do not throw away your confidence.”

Maybe that’s the word some of us need today.

Hold on.

Hold on to your faith.
Hold on to your hope.
Hold on to your joy.

Not because everything is good.

But because God is.

Hebrews 10:39, reminds us, “…we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”

Our God is worth fighting for.

Our faith is worth fighting for.

Your Joy is worth fighting for.