Beyond Joyful 50: How to Make Easter Joy Last

During the Holy 50 days between Easter and Pentecost, the love of Jesus feels so tangible, so near. We are no longer fasting or mourning, but rejoicing as the Bridegroom Jesus is now with His Bride, the Church. 

Joy seems to come more easily when we’re surrounded by reminders of His goodness.

But what happens after the Holy 50 days are over? When normalcy of life sinks in…to-do lists, work meetings, school drop-offs, laundry piles… and suddenly, the joy of the Resurrection feels like a distant memory.

How do we carry the joy of Easter beyond 50 days? What does it look like to walk in Resurrection hope—on days 51, 80, and every day after?

The Source of Lasting Joy: An Empty Tomb and a Risen Savior

I can only imagine what Mary Magdalene felt when she approached our Savior’s tomb that morning, grief weighing heavy on her heart, only to find the stone rolled away. The sorrow of Good Friday had turned into a miracle. The tomb was empty and He was not there. He is risen from the dead!

But the angel answered and said to the women,

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." (Matthew 28:5-6)

That moment changed everything. Because Christ rose from the grave, sin and death were defeated forever. Hope wasn’t just restored—it was secured.

This is why we don’t just celebrate Easter for one day. The church has set aside 50 full days, from Easter to Pentecost, to live in the light of the Resurrection. And that joy of the Resurrection is meant to linger even longer. 

We now live in a world where our Savior Jesus has triumphed over sin and death. Where joy isn’t fleeting, because it’s rooted in the unchanging, living Christ. 

The Resurrection wasn’t just a one-day event; it was the beginning of a new reality. 

A reality where Christ’s victory isn’t just a past moment, but a present and eternal truth.

Joy That Anchors Us in Every Season

Yet, if we’re honest, lasting joy can feel elusive.

Maybe your joy is full during the Holy 50, but afterwards, you may find yourself struggling. Maybe your joy was real in the church, but now you’re facing an ordinary or even difficult week. 

That’s why I love 1 Peter 1:3-6:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials.” (1 Peter 1:3-6)

Did you catch that? A living hope. A joy that isn’t tied to circumstances, but to Christ Himself. A joy that holds firm, even in the in-between.

Cultivating Easter Joy Daily

So how do we make this practical? How do we keep the passion of Easter burning in our hearts beyond 50 days?

Here are a few ways:

• Start your day with gratitude for the Resurrection. Before you reach for your phone or dive into your schedule, take a moment to thank Jesus Christ for His victory over death—and what that means for you today.
• Fill your heart with truth. Meditate on Scriptures that remind you of the Resurrection’s power. John 11:25, Philippians 3:10, Romans 8:11—let these words sink in.
• Celebrate “little Pascha” every week. In the Orthodox faith, we honor the Resurrection every Sunday as a “little Pascha.” Each Sunday is an opportunity to renew the joy of Easter! As St. Basil the Great said, “We celebrate the Resurrection of Christ every Sunday.”
• Revisit the beauty of Holy Week. If you missed it (or just want to reflect again), download our free Holy Week guide, “Experiencing the Beauty of Holy Week.” It includes daily reflections and guided prayers to help you savor the joy of our Savior’s resurrection.
• Look for our Lord God in the mundane. He’s there, in your morning coffee, in your conversations, in the quiet moments between tasks. The Resurrection means He is always with us, always working.

St. Athanasius, a pillar of the Alexandrian Church and a champion of the Resurrection, reminds us that the Church lives in a continual state of resurrected rejoicing—a spiritual springtime. 

“Brethren, how fine a thing it is to move from festival to festival, from prayer to prayer, from holy day to holy day. The time is now at hand when we enter on a new beginning: the proclamation of the blessed Passover, in which the Lord was sacrificed.” - St. Athanasius

Each day is full of beauty, power, and life—a time to savor the joy of the risen Christ.

Letting Our Joy Overflow to Others

Joy is contagious. And when we live with a Resurrection mindset, others notice.

I think of women in my life who radiate joy, not because life is easy for them, but because they walk daily in the hope of Christ. They are living proof that we can carry the joy of the Resurrection into every part of life: into diaper changes, into boardrooms, into waiting seasons, into celebrations.

That’s the kind of joy our Savior wants for all of us. A joy that lasts fifty days... and keeps on going.

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Don’t leave the Holy 50 behind when the holiday ends. Carry it with you. Let it shape your Mondays, your hard days, your ordinary days. 

This is the power and fullness of life Jesus Christ died and rose to give you. Let’s live like it’s true–because it is. 

Whatever you’re facing today, the joy of our Lord is for you. Right now. 

Christ is risen! Truly He is risen! 

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Celebrate the Joyful 50 with Abiding Light!

Join our Joyful 50 Bible Study Challenge (in-person or online) as we walk through the Choose Joy Philippians Bible Study together, one week at a time, throughout this sacred season. Together, let’s learn how to cultivate joy, no matter our circumstances. Sign up for the free challenge here.