How to Hold onto Joy When Life at Easter Feels Heavy
Easter can be full of joy for some and full of sadness for others. While I love the Easter holiday because we are celebrating the resurrection of the Lord, I am often reminded of the death of my mother. My mom loved holidays, and she ensured each holiday was properly celebrated. Without her here now, any holiday can feel heavy, including Easter.
In my head, I know I will see her again, yet it is still hard to face a holiday because I know she won't be here with me. Seeing posts on social media about meeting with family, spending time with them, and celebrating the Lord together can feel overwhelming and cause much sorrow to fill my heart. While I know I cannot see my mom again on this earth, I know that I can celebrate Jesus’ incredible work on the cross because, without it, none of us would have the hope of seeing our loved ones again.
Maybe a loved one passed away this year, or you are going through a divorce, and you don’t have any joy left. If Easter feels heavy this year, know you are not alone. You can still hold on to pleasure by finding your hope in Jesus. Jesus will never disappoint us, even if the circumstances of our life do.
Hope That Does Not Disappoint
“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5).
The hope we have in Jesus can help our weary souls keep going when it is hard. I have found this to be true in my own life; I know I wouldn’t be here today without Jesus. Joy doesn’t necessarily mean we are always happy, but it does mean that we have an everlasting light in our hearts. Even when the darkness around us reigns, the light in us keeps burning.
The joy that Jesus gives us will help us to continue moving forward. However, if you don’t feel strong enough to push on right now, know that the Lord sits with you in your pain. He knows you are filled with sorrow this Easter, but He doesn’t condemn your pain. Instead, He engulfs you in His love. Allow His comfort and hope to fuel you, and on the days that you are too weary, rest in the knowledge that Jesus is right beside you in your sorrow and distress.
Jesus Will Surround Us with His Comfort
“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings, you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” (Psalm 91:4).
The refuge of Jesus’ love can help us to hold onto joy when Easter is feeling heavy. Just because it is a holiday does not mean our pain is somehow eradicated. In truth, it is still there, and it is probably even more potent than it was on a typical day. Rather than trying to manage the pain on our own by suppressing it deep in our hearts, we need to turn to Jesus. Turning to Jesus will bring hope into our hearts because we will know that we don’t have to rely on ourselves—we can depend on Him.
Giving our sorrow over to Jesus can relieve its heaviness. In the Bible, we are told to cast our anxiety on Jesus because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). The Lord never condemns us for our feelings, nor does He withhold His comfort from our hearts. Relying on this truth can bring joy into our hearts when the heaviness grows too strong. By casting our anxieties, cares, and struggles on the Lord, we can be freed to experience His joy.
Jesus’ Finished Work on the Cross
“‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
During Easter, we celebrate the Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection. It can be easy to overlook the significance of Jesus’ finished work on the cross when our hearts are in anguish, or we are in pain. We can hold onto joy by stepping back from what we are going through and redirecting our minds to Jesus. Yes, everything in our lives might be terrible right now, but Jesus is still present, and He is still good. He defeated death and the devil on the cross, and we can stand firm because of Him.
Jesus is not limited in His abilities, and He can bring joy back into our hearts. A key way He might do this is by helping you remember what He has done for you. As many people have said over the course of time, even if you were the only person on earth, Jesus would have died for your sins. This is how much He loves you—and His love will never change. Love is what caused Jesus to die the death we deserved.
When your heart feels heavy, remember Jesus’ most significant act of love (John 15:13-14). This can help us to hold onto joy and know that the Lord is always for us, never against us (Romans 8:31). The more we take hold of the joy that is ours in Christ, the lighter our hearts will feel. The heaviness might still be there, but it won’t be as strong.
Looking Forward to Eternity
“But in keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).
Something that I often have to reflect upon during days of heaviness of the heart is that we are looking forward to eternity. The pain, sorrow, and anguish we experience on this earth is temporary. While these things might endure throughout our lives, they will not continue into eternity. My mom is not here on earth, but she will be with me for all eternity. In the same way, maybe your sister, brother, or spouse passed away, but you will see them again in Heaven.
When the days get dark, we need to hold onto the hope of eternity as it was only made possible by the Lord. None of us would be saved without the Lord’s work on the cross and His love for us. There would be no joy, laughter, or happiness because the end would come for all of us. Praise God that this is not true because the Lord has indeed risen from the dead and has given salvation to all who have faith in Him (Romans 10:9-11).
Allow the heaviness from your heart to be given over to the Lord. Look forward to eternity, where righteousness will reign. There will be no more crying, pain, or death (Revelation 21:4). Easter helps us reflect upon these truths because it is a time of new beginnings and births. Jesus will fill our hearts with greater joy than anything this world could give us.
Leaning on Other Believers
“If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (Ecclesiastes 4:10).
It is also worthwhile to mention the encouragement among fellow believers during the Easter holiday. Talk with your church family about what is going on in your life. Whenever my sorrow becomes overbearing, sometimes I have the habit of keeping it to myself for fear of burdening others. We must let go of this because the family of God is there to build us up and encourage us (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Talk with your friends, siblings, parents, or spouse if your church family does not feel like a safe space to release your feelings. The important thing is to make sure you are releasing those feelings and having a safe place to do so. Talking about your feelings and leaning on other believers can help you hold onto joy this Easter. The support they will give you will help you know that you are not alone.
Heaviness can make you feel alone, but you have so many loved ones who want to bring joy to your heart. Jesus is also trying to bring joy to your heart, even if you might not see it immediately. Maybe it will be in the form of a long-distance family member visiting this Easter or reconnecting with a friend from a long time ago. Even simpler things can show us Jesus’ joy, such as a baby laughing, a hug from our spouse, or the setting sun.
Easter is a beautiful time of year but can also be a time of sorrow. Talk with the Lord about your heaviness, and be sure to share these feelings with other loved ones. Our happiness will waver; however, the joy we have in Jesus can withhold any storm. We have to take hold of it.
Originally published March 11, 2025.
