Advent Joy: The Biblical Meaning of Joy & How Gratitude Rewires the Brain

This week of advent is the week of Joy. The Bible has many words to describe the concept of “joy” but one thing that is a consistent message throughout the Bible is the idea that we should continue to choose joy. And we all know the tension. The moments when life feels heavy, when circumstances seem to crumble faster than we can gather the pieces, when the idea of choosing joy feels almost impossible. And yet Scripture meets us exactly there—right in the real, messy, unfiltered parts of life. It doesn’t pretend hardship doesn’t exist. It doesn’t shame us for feeling overwhelmed. But it does call us to a deeper understanding of what joy actually is.

We often think of the words of Paul urging believers to “count it all joy.” And if we’re honest, many of us have experienced seasons where we silently (or not so silently) wished that verse would disappear for a while. Not because we don’t believe in Scripture, but because our hearts simply couldn’t make sense of it in the moment. Joy didn’t feel accessible. It didn’t feel realistic. It didn’t feel fair. But perhaps the struggle doesn’t come from the passage itself—perhaps it comes from the definition we’ve attached to the word joy.

A quick internet search describes joy as “a strong pleasurable emotion from success, good fortune, or a desired possession.” If this is our definition, then of course “count it all joy” sounds unrealistic. If joy is only tied to pleasure, success, or favorable circumstances, then what is God asking of us in suffering? What does it even mean to choose joy when nothing around us feels joyful?

Biblical joy is the settled assurance that God is with us, God is for us, and God is still working—especially when we cannot see it.

And this is why Advent is the perfect time to revisit what joy truly means. Advent reminds us that joy came into the world not during a time of political peace, comfort, or prosperity, but during uncertainty, oppression, and waiting. Jesus was born into a world that desperately needed hope, which means joy is not fragile—joy is resilient. Joy is not naïve—joy is courageous. Joy does not deny pain—joy shines brightest in it.

When we let go of the world’s definition of joy, we finally become free to embrace God’s. Joy becomes possible in mourning. Joy becomes steady in uncertainty. Joy becomes a quiet strength in seasons of waiting. Joy becomes a light that no circumstance can extinguish.

Joy is not something we must muster—it is something we choose because God has made it available.

The Science of Thankfulness: How Gratitude Rewires Your Brain

Neuroscientific research gives us a fascinating look at what happens in our brains when we practice gratitude. It turns out that thankfulness isn't just a nice thought; it’s a powerful mental workout that strengthens the areas responsible for our well-being.

Here’s the simple breakdown of what scientists have found:

Gratitude is a Powerful Reward System

When you feel or express genuine gratitude, you activate the brain's main reward circuit, including areas like the ventral striatum and the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA).

• In Simple Terms: This is the same circuitry that gets activated when you receive a nice compliment or reach a goal. Gratitude triggers a release of feel-good chemicals (like dopamine) that makes you want to repeat the behavior. It literally reinforces positive emotions and strengthens your capacity for joy.

Gratitude Boosts Emotional Control

Practicing gratitude lights up areas of the brain that help manage your feelings and make good decisions. These areas include the Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) and the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC).

• In Simple Terms: The Prefrontal Cortex is the brain’s "CEO"—it handles planning, complex thinking, and emotional regulation. By regularly engaging in gratitude, you are essentially training your brain to better handle stress, regulate your mood, and resist impulsive, negative thoughts.

Gratitude Strengthens Social Connection

Research also shows that gratitude engages the Medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC), a key area involved in understanding others and social bonding.

• In Simple Terms: When you are thankful for others, your brain releases neurochemicals like Oxytocin (the "love hormone"). This deepens your sense of connection, empathy, and security, making you feel more rooted and less isolated—which is essential for long-term mental health.

The Takeaway: When you "choose joy" through gratitude, you are actively exercising the parts of your brain that regulate happiness, emotional stability, and resilience. It's a fundamental way to build lasting well-being from the inside out.

Gratitude reduces stress and calms the nervous system

Scientific findings show that regular gratitude practice activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which counters the body's fight‑or‑flight stress responses, reduces cortisol levels, and supports healthy sleep, digestion, and immune function. [americanbr...dation.org]

Other research confirms that gratitude helps people feel safer and more emotionally regulated, making it easier to think clearly and solve problems effectively—even under stress. [lonestarne...rology.net]

Gratitude improves mental health and overall wellbeing

Harvard Health research reports that gratitude is linked to:

·       better sleep

·       lower depression risk

·       stronger emotional and social wellbeing

·       even greater longevity

A long‑term study found that participants with high gratitude scores had a 9% lower risk of death over four years, independent of other health factors. [health.harvard.edu]

The conclusion across studies is clear: gratitude is not just a nice feeling—it is a mental health intervention built into God’s design of the human brain.

Once we understand how gratitude works in the brain, Paul’s call to “count it all joy” begins to feel less like a burden and more like an invitation to participate in the healing rhythms God designed for us.

Gratitude doesn’t deny pain; it interrupts pain’s total dominance.
It doesn’t erase suffering; it reframes it in the context of God’s presence.
It doesn’t manufacture happiness; it opens the door to biblical joy—a joy rooted not in circumstances, but in Christ.

Advent reminds us that joy came into the world not in a season of comfort, but in a season of longing. Not in ease, but in waiting. Not in triumph, but in vulnerability. This means joy is not fragile. It is resilient. It is grounded not in us, but in the God who came near.

Gratitude strengthens the very neural pathways that help us see God’s goodness. Joy, then, isn’t something we force—it’s something God grows in us as we practice noticing His gifts. 

This season, may you find joy not because life is perfect, but because God’s presence is. May gratitude become a sacred practice that anchors you in truth, calms your spirit, strengthens your mind, and opens your heart to the deep, sustaining joy God promises.