When Obedience Feels Joyless

What happens when the Christian life doesn't feel joyful? When obedience seems joyless, prayer dry, and worship more of a discipline than a delight? These are not questions for the fringe of the faith. Many faithful believers walk through long seasons where they wonder, “Why does following Jesus feel so hard?” Some may even say, with great honesty, “I think I was happier before I became a Christian.”

If you’ve ever felt this, you're not alone. And more importantly, you're not hopeless.

Scripture acknowledges our struggle to delight in God consistently. While the Bible offers no license for spiritual apathy, it does offer a path forward for weary believers whose emotions lag behind their obedience. The apostle John gives us both a challenge and a promise:

“This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith.” (1 John 5:3–4)

Let’s unpack that.

Obedience as a Measure of Love

John speaks plainly: loving God is shown by keeping His commandments. The Christian life is not ultimately measured by feelings or moments of inspiration, but by our obedience. As Jesus Himself said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). That includes the command to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Not occasionally. Always.

This may seem like a heavy burden but John immediately counters that thought. “His commandments are not burdensome.” They may be costly. They may hurt. They may go against every worldly desire we have. But they are never cruel, never heavy with condemnation for those in Christ. They are the path of life.

The Miracle of New Birth

Why aren’t God’s commands burdensome? Because the Christian has been born again. And that new birth brings new desires. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

This doesn’t mean perfection far from it. But it does mean the direction of our hearts has changed. Where sin once satisfied, now it sickens. Where righteousness once seemed dull, now it draws us. Though we stumble, we desire holiness. We hate our sin. We long to love God more. That longing itself is evidence of the Spirit’s work.

Still, what do we do when those new affections feel buried? When joy is more duty than delight?

A Caterpillar in Transition

Imagine a caterpillar transformed into a butterfly but still crawling, still trying to live as it once did. Its wings are now a hindrance to crawling. It stumbles more than it moves. Its old ways no longer satisfy, and its new identity feels awkward and unrewarding. This is the Christian stuck between the world and the kingdom no longer comfortable in sin, not yet soaring in joy.

It’s a miserable middle too much of Jesus to enjoy the world, and too much of the world to enjoy Jesus.

Yet the Bible offers hope: “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world.” Victory is promised not through striving alone, but through faith. That’s the secret weapon. Not willpower. Not better habits. But living, breathing, expectant faith that clings to Christ when the heart doesn’t.

When Joy Feels Out of Reach

So what can you do when your joy feels deadened?

1. Examine your affections. What consumes your thoughts and free time? What delights you most? These questions can expose idols that quietly steal our joy in God. As Jesus warned, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

2. Return to your first love. Jesus called the church in Revelation to remember, repent, and return (Revelation 2:4–5). Remember the moments when Christ first captured your heart. Repent of growing cold. And return to Him not just with spiritual practices, but with a heart that says, “I miss You.”

3. Stay in the fight. Keep praying, even when it’s hard. Keep reading, even when it’s dry. Keep fellowshipping, even when you feel alone. These habits don’t earn God’s love, but they place you in His path. As one writer put it, “Put yourself where grace is happening.”

4. Plead for renewed vision. Ask God to open your eyes to the beauty of Christ again. Like Moses on the mountain, say, “Show me Your glory” (Exodus 33:18). God loves to answer that prayer.

5. Consider your standing. It’s also worth asking soberly: Have I truly been born again? Have I experienced “the expulsive power of a new affection”? Or am I trying to live the Christian life with a heart that still loves the world? Jesus warned about those who appear to leave Sodom but still long for it, like Lot’s wife (Luke 17:32).

A Sobering Warning, A Soaring Hope

God does not tolerate joyless obedience forever. As Deuteronomy 28:47–48 warns, “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies.” The joy of the Lord is not optional. It's fuel for the journey.

But for the true child of God, joy will come. “You will be flying soon enough,” the writer assures. You may be crawling now, burdened by doubt, weighed down by apathy, but the wind of God's grace will lift you. You will remember that His love is better than life (Psalm 63:3), that He is not just good. He is best.

The path forward is not quick, but it is sure. Keep pleading. Keep walking. Keep watching. Joy is coming.

Share this article with someone who may be in a similar season or subscribe to our newsletter for more encouragement like this.