In the context, the pronoun "it" in the phrase "it was, for them" refers to what?

The pronoun "it" in the phrase "it was, for them" refers to "joy they felt" because the context typically requires interpreting "it" as reflecting an emotional or subjective experience. In literature, such pronouns often connect to abstract concepts or feelings experienced by characters rather than concrete variables like a church atmosphere or a sermon.

In this case, "joy they felt" encapsulates a personal and subjective response, which aligns with how pronouns like "it" are used to imply a significant feeling or state of being rather than a physical object or setting. This understanding emphasizes the importance of individual emotional experience in the narrative, highlighting how the characters relate to or are affected by their experiences. Thus, interpreting "it" as "joy they felt" deepens the reader's engagement with the characters' emotional landscape and the overall theme of the text.