A Prayer for Joy That Feels Blocked by Burdens - Your Daily Prayer - September 4
September 04, 2026
A Prayer for Joy That Feels Blocked by Burdens
By Keri Eichberger
Bible Reading
Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14)
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My firstborn and only son is getting married next month. And I should be overflowing with joy, right? One would think. But the truth is, sadness has been surrounding me. Circumstantial burdens seem to be blocking the joy I always imagined would lead up to this milestone. My son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law are following hard after the Lord—praise God! She is more than we ever could’ve imagined as a forever mate for our son. She loves Jesus, adores Will with her whole heart, and already feels like a fifth daughter in our family. I should be absolutely elated. So why in the world am I not?
Is it because it’s all happening sooner than I expected? The fact that my firstborn is leaving and I’m fearful of what that looks like, or how my heart will handle it? Or is it my disappointment that I haven’t healed as well as I expected from surgery a few months ago, and may not enjoy the big day as I always dreamed? Possibly the weight is due to the sudden news that our family dog has an aggressive form of cancer, and we could lose her in the mix of all of this. Or maybe it’s as simple as the high demands of summer with five kids at home that seem to be leaving me feeling overwhelmed and less than these days? But shouldn’t I still have great joy? I have the Lord. I know better than to let my circumstances dictate my heart posture.
Psalm 90:14 declares to God, “Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Yes, that is what I want—to be glad, be joyful, and glad all my days. That is how it should be. Right?
Have you ever experienced something like this? Where you know that you should be joyful. You know, there really are so many reasons to sing God‘s praises. Yet, for whatever reason, your joy feels blocked by the burdens surrounding you. I get it. What is for you? What is going on around you that seems to be stealing your joy and causing disappointment or feelings of sadness? There always seems to be something, I know. But I also know that in these moments, you and I need to keep seeking the Lord. Praying for joy, sharing our concerns, and casting all of our cares on him.
The Bible tells us in Psalm 34:17: "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles." And 1 Peter 5:7 says to, Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. These words of scripture offer us, as believers, assurance that our sovereign Lord cares about all our hurts and concerns. And that is when we call out to our good God; He hears every cry and offers us deliverance.
Through the days, the clouds seemed to hover over my head, even though I knew deep down that I had every reason to be grateful and glad; I continued praying for joy. I knew God had answered that very prayer for me over and over. And I knew he would do it again. And the truth is, his answer didn’t come with a change of circumstances; it came with a change of heart. Where yesterday morning I closed my devotion time in tears—pleading for light to replace my heavy load—this morning I praised God for gratitude and a fullness that now filled my heart. And not because anything necessarily changed, but because God in his goodness and grace changed my heart—revealing to me his blessings, assuring me of his provision, and comforting me with the promise of his constant love and care.
God’s word reminds us in Psalm 30:5: "Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning." So, if it is joy you are lacking but longing for, keep asking God to change and fill your heart with gladness. Take your eyes off your need for a shift in circumstances and be expectant of a shift in soul and spirit. Trust that God can indeed do that. He has done it for me, I believe he has done it for you, and he will faithfully do it again and again.
Let’s Pray
Father God, I long to feel your joy every day. And truly, I have every reason to be full of gladness in you always, yet too often the world weighs me down. Unsettling circumstances and sorrowful situations surround me, and I let them overshadow the goodness you give. Your overflowing goodness that lightens my load, that you pour out all over my life. Help me to fix my eyes on you every morning. Help me to keep praying for eyes to see you and your abounding blessings throughout my day. So that regardless of the sadness I feel or the difficulty I face, above all, my heart will see and be full of you. You are where I find my joy. And you are always with me. Thank you, Jesus, Amen.
If you liked what you read, I think you will love my latest book, Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes. You can find it on Amazon or your favorite online retail site. I hope it blesses you!
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Photo Credit: Unsplash/Pascal Debrunner
Related Resource: Praying Through Life’s Battles
What battle are you carrying today?
Maybe it is an unanswered prayer, a painful loss, a strained relationship, a health concern, or a circumstance that feels far beyond your control. When life feels overwhelming, we can become so consumed by our emotions—or so busy trying to fix everything ourselves—that prayer is often one of the first things we neglect.
This week on The Love Offering Podcast, my friend Rachel Wojo joins me to talk about her new 90-day devotional, Praying Through Life’s Battles. Drawing from her experience of loving and losing her daughter, Taylor, Rachel shares how prayer has sustained her through unimaginable grief and reminded her that she never faces life’s battles alone.
If you like what you hear, be sure to follow The Love Offering on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
