Joy

Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy are in His dwelling place. ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”  ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭8:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them. ‭‭Esther‬ ‭8:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to man His righteousness.” Job‬ ‭33:26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭5:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I will be filled with joy because of You.   I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.  Psalms 9:2 NLT

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.  Psalms 16:11 NLT

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.  Psalm 28:7 NLT

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭30:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭33:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭35:27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭47:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭71:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what Your hands have done. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭92:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Psalms‬ ‭100:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118:15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118:24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again. Those who sow their tears as seeds will reap a harvest with joyful shouts of glee. They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow, but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing!  ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭126:4-6‬ ‭TPT‬‬

They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭145:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. Psalm 146:5 NLT

Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. Proverbs 3:13 NLT

Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home!  Proverbs 8:34 NLT

The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭10:28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word! ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful. Proverbs 16:20 NLT

When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭21:15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works. ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭9:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you. ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭12:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away. ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭35:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! ‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” ‭‭John‬ ‭16:20-22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Now I am coming to You. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with My joy.” ‭‭John‬ ‭17:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  ‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NLT

And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, ‭‭I Thessalonians‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT 

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. ‭‭Philemon‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ‭‭James‬ ‭1:2-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:8-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. ‭‭II John‬ ‭1:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

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Devotionals

The joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10. Comments by Mike MacIntosh. Are you experiencing joy in your walk with Jesus? Some people confuse joy with happiness, but the two are not the same. Happiness is an emotion based on our outward circumstances, how we are feeling, what people are saying about us, and other things that change. Joy is something we receive from the Lord Himself, who never changes. Therefore, it is possible to be strengthened with the joy of the Lord, regardless of our circumstances. But we can’t expect to experience the joy of the Lord if our eyes are not focused on Him. You see, so often believers live in guilt instead of joy. We fail, and we feel defeated. Our passion for Jesus fades because we’ve tried to “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him” (Colossians 1:10), and we’ve failed. But Jesus never asked us to be perfect. In fact, none of us is perfect, and we are all sinners! (Romans 3:23). We all fail everyday — but that doesn’t change the love of Jesus for us. The truth is, we don’t merit such love — as sinners, we’re not qualified to so much as stand before a holy God, much less partake of His love. But Colossians 1:12 says that the Father “has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance… He has delivered us from the power of darkness.” Through His blood, we have redemption. It’s not by our lack of sin, or even our good works, but by His grace — and His grace alone — that we’re forgiven. Because of God’s amazing love, we have joy. If you will accept the fact that God loves you, that He accepts you and forgives you, you will begin to experience the joy of the Lord. You will feel the freedom to look past your own defeats, your own guilt, and into the loving eyes of the Savior. And you will begin praying for other people, because your focus will no longer be on yourself. You will be a source of strength for others — a person who shines of God’s love because you’re assured of it. Indeed, the joy of the Lord will be your strength. Today, whatever circumstances you face, you can experience joy. Maybe you’re experiencing problems at home with the kids or with your spouse. Maybe you have a difficult situation at work, or are in the middle of financial problems. It’s okay to feel sadness, to feel frustration, to feel down — we are human, and these are human emotions. But never let circumstances rob you of your joy by turning your eyes away from Jesus. If you will keep your eyes on Him, He will strengthen you with His joy. You are His child, and He’s looking out for you. Today, may you be “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy” (Colossians 1:11).  

Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10. Comments by David Jeremiah. The apostle Paul is the classic example of discovering and experiencing joy in difficult circumstances. “Joy” and “rejoicing” are mentioned twelve times in his short letter to the Philippians—written while he was under house arrest in Rome with an uncertain future ahead of him. What does it mean to have joy in difficult circumstances? At least two truths make joy possible. First, Moses told the second generation of Israelites who had survived 38 years of wilderness wanderings, “You shall rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household” (Deuteronomy 26:11, NIV). That is, we can rejoice because of God’s care for us in difficult times. Second, the fact that we are citizens of heaven means that we are in Christ in the heavenlies. That is, we can rejoice in difficult situations because of our citizenship in heaven where we are fully protected. If you are a Christian today, God has cared for you and made you a citizen of heaven. He will continue to care for you and sustain you with the resources of heaven itself. Both truths make good reasons for having joy in the Lord today.

Then He said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord.  Don’t be grieved; for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10 WEB. Comments by Barry Adams. Promise: Do not be sad for My joy is your strength. In this passage of Scripture, Israel had assembled to listen to the Word of the Lord. It sounds like it was a very intense time and people were weeping in such a solemn assembly. No doubt they might have been surprised when they heard the Lord’s encouragement for them not to be sad, but to rely on the joy of the Lord to find their true strength. According to Strong’s Concordance, the word strength here in the Hebrew means a fortified place, a fort, a rock, a strong hold. Just think of it…the joy of the Lord is your personal fortress! Whenever you are faced with sadness, run into the stronghold of the Lord’s joy and that is where you will find your strength. God is filled with joy! Joy is listed in the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The kingdom of God is described as righteousness, peace and joy. Jesus said that He came that our joy might be full. In His presence is fullness of joy! The joy of the Lord is our unshakeable stronghold in the midst of a world that is continually being shaken. No matter what comes your way in life, take refuge in Papa God’s joy over you today. It is a safe place where you can live forever!  

Serve the Lord with gladness. Psalms 100:2. Comments by Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, January 9 evening. Delight in divine service is a token of acceptance. Those who serve God with a sad countenance, because they do what is unpleasant to them, are not serving Him at all; they bring the form of homage, but the life is absent. Our God requires no slaves to grace His throne; He is the Lord of the empire of love, and would have His servants dressed in the livery of joy. The angels of God serve Him with songs, not with groans; a murmur or a sigh would be a mutiny in their ranks. That obedience which is not voluntary is disobedience, for the Lord looketh at the heart, and if He seeth that we serve Him from force, and not because we love Him, He will reject our offering. Service coupled with cheerfulness is heart-service, and therefore true. Take away joyful willingness from the Christian, and you have removed the test of his sincerity. If a man be driven to battle, he is no patriot; but he who marches into the fray with flashing eye and beaming face, singing, “It is sweet for one’s country to die,” proves himself to be sincere in his patriotism. Cheerfulness is the support of our strength; in the joy of the Lord are we strong. It acts as the remover of difficulties. It is to our service what oil is to the wheels of a railway carriage. Without oil the axle soon grows hot, and accidents occur; and if there be not a holy cheerfulness to oil our wheels, our spirits will be clogged with weariness. The man who is cheerful in his service of God, proves that obedience is his element; he can sing, “Make me to walk in Thy commands, ‘Tis a delightful road.” Reader, let us put this question–do you serve the Lord with gladness? Let us show to the people of the world, who think our religion to be slavery, that it is to us a delight and a joy! Let our gladness proclaim that we serve a good Master.

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24. Comments by Anonymous Author. This IS the day. Live in the moment, focus on and enjoy each moment. Enjoy every day for what it brings and for whatever happens. This day will pass, and you will never have the opportunity to live this day over again.

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭7:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬. Comments by Mike Fabarez. While it is true that sorrow may teach us more than happiness, joy and gladness are certainly more appropriate in the hearts and attitudes of those who know and love God. The psalmist exclaimed, “Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him” (Psalm 33:1). Paul exhorted us, “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Would you be counted by your friends and coworkers as one who is obedient to that biblical command? Are you seen as someone whose temperament is characterized by a biblical optimism? Would others say you are quick to smile at the thought of God’s grace and his ever-present help in your life? It may be a challenge in a world filled with so much pain, but how displeasing and unbecoming it is for the forgiven children of God to be the most sour, critical, discouraged and pessimistic people on the block. Let this never be true of us. Let us find our joy in the transcendent truths of God’s word. May we learn to rejoice as we meditate on the forgiveness, grace and acceptance that is ours in Christ. Let us be those who are known for smiling, singing and reveling in God and our standing in grace. 

We will be glad and rejoice in thee. Song of Solomon 1:4. Comments by Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening. January 1 evening. We will be glad and rejoice in thee. We will not open the gates of the year to the dolorous notes of the sackbut, but to the sweet strains of the harp of joy, and the high sounding cymbals of gladness. “O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise unto the rock of our salvation.” We, the called and faithful and chosen, we will drive away our griefs, and set up our banners of confidence in the name of God. Let others lament over their troubles, we who have the sweetening tree to cast into Marah’s bitter pool, with joy will magnify the Lord. Eternal Spirit, our effectual Comforter, we who are the temples in which thou dwellest, will never cease from adoring and blessing the name of Jesus. We will, we are resolved about it, Jesus must have the crown of our heart’s delight; we will not dishonour our Bridegroom by mourning in his presence. We are ordained to be the minstrels of the skies, let us rehearse our everlasting anthem before we sing it in the halls of the New Jerusalem. We will be glad and rejoice: two words with one sense, double joy, blessedness upon blessedness. Need there be any limit to our rejoicing in the Lord even now? Do not men of grace find their Lord to be camphire and spikenard, calamus and cinnamon even now, and what better fragrance have they in heaven itself? We will be glad and rejoice in Thee. That last word is the meat in the dish, the kernel of the nut, the soul of the text. What heavens are laid up in Jesus! What rivers of infinite bliss have their source, aye, and every drop of their fulness in him! Since, O sweet Lord Jesus, thou art the present portion of thy people, favour us this year with such a sense of thy preciousness, that from its first to its last day we may be glad and rejoice in thee. Let January open with joy in the Lord, and December close with gladness in Jesus.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7. Comments  by David Jeremiah. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development issued its 2012 “happiness index” — a ranking of the developed nations on the basis of life satisfaction.  The survey measures things like employment rate, health, the number of hours employees work, disposable income, educational attainment, and life expectancy. In searching for the happiest nation, “sympathy for those in need” is not something that is measured. That’s the difference in happiness — or better, joy — in the world and in the kingdom of God. In the world, happiness is found in pursuit of happiness for self, while in the kingdom, happiness — again, deep-seated joy — is found in the pursuit of love and service to others. The most striking example of such joy is Jesus Christ who “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). Endured the cross as a path to joy? What could be more counterintuitive, humanly speaking, than that? Yet that is the way of the cross — laying down one’s life for another: “Blessed [happy, joyful] are the merciful” (Matthew 5:7). As you celebrated the joy of Christmas (or the joy of the Christian life), now multiply it in your life by extending it to others. 

And now I am coming to You; I say these things while I am still in the world, so that My joy may be made full  and  complete  and  perfect in them [that they may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts]. John 17:13 AMP. Comments by Mike MacIntosh. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.  1 Corinthians 2:9  How sad to see this world running in circles, looking in all the wrong places for joy and happiness and love.  Love and joy are two tremendous powers that come from God.  Both of these powers are a profound presence, reaching into the deepest, darkest area of your soul to turn on the healing lamp of God.  Joy flows from the well of love.  You see, a vast amount of our hurts come from the lack of love and joy.  But just mix these two elements into our recipe of living, and there isn’t much in the area of hurt, pain, and suffering that can linger too long.  The fact is, the joy of God heals.  I know this may sound too simplistic, too easy.  Most of us, in our more cynical moments, have questioned the sincerity of those who tell others to “have a nice day.”  One lady was overheard saying to someone who told her to have a nice day, “I have other plans.”  May I ask you, What are your plans?  Are you ready to take your hurts to God and allow Him to heal you?  If you are simply ready and willing, He wants to heal your hurts by imparting love and joy.  He has been in love with you for years.  He’s seen your smiles and He’s seen your tears.  Let God heal you of your hurts.  He’s ready to do it, you know!  His love has the wonderful power to heal you today. 

There are no perfect days and no perfect life. I will experience moments of sadness and seasons of anxiety. People will disappoint and circumstances will spin out of control. There is virtually nothing in my life that I can control…except me. I cannot control my circumstances, but I can control my response. So, I will decide to Choose Joy! I will choose to fix my thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. I will choose to think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. I will choose to think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise… and the God of peace will be with me. Declarations based on Philippians 4:8-9.  Comments by Anonymous Author

I will choose joy by: 

-Nurturing an attitude of gratitude. I will eliminate discontent.

-Giving, because a generous heart is a joyful heart.

-Compassionately loving my enemies. “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you. If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return. Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. Luke 6:27-38

-Focusing on what I have, instead of what I want.

-Reading the Christmas story, instead of the ads.

-Listening to Christmas music, instead of talk radio.

-Watching a fire, instead of TV.

-Learning to love life again, and reclaiming a sense of wonder.

-Rediscovering simple pleasures. Play with the box instead of the toy.

-Giving away happiness, in the belief that it might come back on me!

-Eliminating guilt, and doing life God’s way instead.

-Connecting with God, because the Spirit controlled life produces joy.

How can I experience joy in my Christian life? Comments from https://www.gotquestions.org/joy-Christian.html. Joy is something we all long for but that often seems difficult to grab hold of. Experiencing joy should be a part of every Christian’s life. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, produced only by God’s work in us. We know that even the most mature Christians experience periods of joylessness. For instance, Job wished he had never been born (Job 3:11). David prayed to be taken away to a place where he would not have to deal with reality (Psalms 55:6–8). Elijah, even after defeating 450 prophets of Baal with fire called down from heaven (1 Kings 18:16–46), fled into the desert and asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:3–5). So how can we experience joy in the Christian life? The first thing is to realize that joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness is circumstantial and fleeting. Joy is a heart posture. The root word for joy in the Greek is chara, which is closely related with the Greek charis for “grace.” Joy is both a gift of God as well as a response to the gifts of God. Joy comes when we are aware of God’s grace and His favor. With this in mind, it becomes evident that one way to experience joy is to focus on God. Rather than dwelling on our difficulties or those things robbing our contentment, we can dwell on God. This is not to say we should deny our discontent or stuff negative emotions. As many of the psalmists patterned, we can pour out our hearts to God. We can tell Him bluntly all the things that ail us. But then we submit those things to Him and remember who He is. Psalms 3, 13, 18, 43, and 103 are good examples. The book of Philippians has much to say about joy, even though Paul wrote the epistle from prison. Philippians 4:4–8 gives some guidelines for experiencing joy in the Christian life: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! . . . The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Here we see the importance of praising God, remembering that He is near, praying about our worries, and keeping our minds focused on the good things of God. We can experience joy when we intentionally praise. David wrote that the study of God’s Word can bring us joy (Psalms 19:8). We experience joy by communing with God through prayer. And we experience joy by keeping our focus on godly things rather than on difficult circumstances or discontentment. Jesus also gave some instructions regarding joy. In John 15 He talked about abiding in Him and obeying Him. He said, “As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:9–11). One of the keys to joy is living in obedience to God. Another way to experience joy in the Christian life is through community. God gave Elijah rest and then sent a man, Elisha, to help him (1 Kings 19:19–21). We, too, need friends that we can share our hurts and pains with (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12). Hebrews 10:19–25 says, “Brothers and sisters . . . let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Because of the grace of God, we know we can approach God confidently in prayer (Hebrews 10:19). We know we are cleansed of our sin (Hebrews 10:22). And we are joined into a new community, a family of believers. With our fellow believers, we hold firm to our faith, trusting in the character of God. We also encourage one another. Christians do not belong to this world (John 17:14–16; Philippians 3:20). We long to be with God, finally restored to our original design. Life can be lonely and discouraging. Others help remind us of truth, carry our burdens with us, and strengthen us to continue on (Galatians 6:10; Colossians 3:12–14). Joy is meant to be a hallmark of the Christian life. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and a gift of God. We best receive this gift when we focus on the truth of who God is, commune with Him through prayer, and rely on the community of believers He has provided.

How can I experience joy in my Christian life? Comments from www.gotquestions.org. Periods of sadness and depression can enter the life of even the most devout Christian. We see many examples of this in the Bible. Job wished he had never been born (Job 3:11). David prayed to be taken away to a place where he would not have to deal with reality (Psalms 55:6-8). Elijah, even after defeating 450 prophets of Baal with fire called down from heaven (1 Kings 18:16-46), fled into the desert and asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:3-5). So how can we overcome these periods of joylessness? We can see how these same people overcame their bouts of depression. Job said that, if we pray and remember our blessings, God will restore us to joy and righteousness (Job 33:26). David wrote that the study of God’s Word can bring us joy (Psalm 19:8). David also realized that he needed to praise God even in the midst of despair (Psalms 42:5). In Elijah’s case, God let him rest for a time and then sent a man, Elisha, to help him (1 Kings 19:19-21). We also need friends that we can share our hurts and pains with (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). It may be helpful to share our feelings with a fellow Christian. We may be surprised to find that he or she has struggled with some of the same things that we are going through. Most importantly, it is certain that dwelling on ourselves, our problems, our hurts, and especially our pasts will never produce true spiritual joy. Joy is not found in materialism, it is not found in psychotherapy, and it most certainly is not found in obsession with ourselves. It is found in Christ. We who belong to the Lord “glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3). To know Christ is to come to have a true sense of ourselves, and true spiritual insight, making it impossible to glory in ourselves, in our wisdom, strength, riches, or goodness, but in Christ—in His wisdom and strength, in His riches and goodness, and in His person only. If we remain in Him, immerse ourselves in His Word, and seek to know Him more intimately, our “joy will be full” (John 15:1-11). Finally, remember that it is only through God’s Holy Spirit that we can find true joy (Psalms 51:11-12; Galatians 5:22; 1 Thessalonians 1:6). We can do nothing apart from the power of God (2 Corinthians 12:10, 13:4). Indeed, the harder we try to be joyful through our own efforts, the more miserable we can become. Rest in the Lord’s arms (Matthew 11:28-30) and seek His face through prayer and Scripture. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

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Quotes

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Anonymous Author

“There is a joy which is not given to the ungodly, but to those who love Thee for Thine own sake, whose joy Thou Thyself art. And this is the happy life, to rejoice to Thee, of Thee, for Thee; this it is, and there is no other.” – Augustine

“How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose!… You drove them from me, You who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them from me and took their place, You who are sweeter than all pleasure.” – Augustine

“There is no virtue in the Christian life which is not made radiant with joy; there is no circumstance and no occasion which is not illuminated with joy. A joyless life is not a Christian life, for joy is one constant recipe for Christian living.” – William Barclay

“There is no joy in the world like the joy of bringing one soul to Christ.” – William Barclay

“I have never known a despondent day… It’s because the joy of the Lord is the strength of my life.”  – Cliff Barrows

“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” – Karl Barth

“I call the New Testament the Book of Joy. There is nowhere in the world another book that is pervaded with such a spirit of exhilaration.” – Henry Ward Beecher

“In the long run, there can be no joy for anybody until there is joy finally for us all.” – Frederick Buechner

“Those who know where the treasure lies joyfully abandon everything else to secure it.” – D. A. Carson

“The Bible teaches that true joy is formed in the midst of the difficult seasons of life.” – Francis Chan

“The only lasting and fully satisfying joys for any man lie on the other side of a cross.” – Walter J. Chantry

“No one can get Joy by merely asking for it. It is one of the ripest fruits of the Christian life, and, like all fruits, must be grown.” – Henry Drummond

“The world looks for happiness through self-assertion. The Christian knows that joy is found in self-abandonment. ‘If a man will let himself be lost for My sake,’ Jesus said, ‘he will find his true self.’” – Elisabeth Elliot

“Joy, not grit, is the hallmark of holy obedience. We need to be light-hearted in what we do to avoid taking ourselves too seriously. It is a cheerful revolt against self and pride.” – Richard J. Foster

“Joy is distinctly a Christian word and a Christian thing. It is the reverse of happiness. Happiness is the result of what happens of an agreeable sort. Joy has its springs deep down inside. And that spring never runs dry, no matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that joy. He had joy, singing its music within, even under the shadow of the cross.” – S.D. Gordon

“Hope fills the afflicted soul with such inward joy and consolation, that it can laugh while tears are in the eye, sigh and sing all in a breath; it is called ‘The rejoicing of hope.’” – William Gurnall

“The joy of the Lord will arm us against the assaults of our spiritual enemies and put our mouths out of taste for those pleasures with which the tempter baits his hooks.” – Matthew Henry

“Happiness is untested delight. Joy is delight tested.” – Jack Hyles

“There is no greater joy in the Christian life than to trust Him and need no explanation.” – Jack Hyles

“When our lives are filled with peace, faith and joy, people will want to know what we have.” – David Jeremiah

“You will find joy in overcoming obstacles.” – Helen Keller

“Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.” – Helen Keller

“Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow.” – Helen Keller

“We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world.” – Helen Keller

“At the least bear patiently, if thou canst not joyfully.” – Thomas a Kempis

“We rejoice in spite of our grief, not in place of it.” – Woodrow Kroll

“The very nature of Joy makes nonsense of our common distinction between having and wanting.” – C.S. Lewis

“Joy is the serious business of heaven.”  – C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm 

“His is a joy which consequences cannot quench. His is a peace which circumstances cannot steal.” – Max Lucado

“Find joy in the ordinary.” – Max Lucado

“Seek to cultivate a buoyant, joyous sense of the crowded kindnesses of God in your daily life.” – Alexander MacLaren

“Each new day brings joy, hope, and possibility.” – Kevin Mallery

“Happiness is caused by things that happen around me, and circumstances will mar it; but joy flows right on through trouble; joy flows on through the dark; joy flows in the night as well as in the day; joy flows all through persecution and opposition.” – Dwight L. Moody

“The Lord gives His people perpetual joy when they walk in obedience to Him.” – Dwight L. Moody

“Joy is Strength.” – Mother Teresa

“The mere fact itself that God’s will is irresistible and irreversible fills me with fear, but once I realize that God wills only that which is good, my heart is made to rejoice.” – A. W. Pink

“Sorrow does not take away, but adds to the Christian’s joy.” – Lester Roloff

“Begin to rejoice in the Lord, and your bones will flourish like an herb, and your cheeks will glow with the bloom of health and freshness. Worry, fear, distrust, care-all are poisonous! Joy is balm and healing, and if you will but rejoice, God will give power.” – A. B. Simpson

“It is His joy that remains in us that makes our joy full.” – A. B. Simpson

“When the heart is full of joy, it always allows its joy to escape. It is like the fountain in the marketplace; whenever it is full it runs away in streams, and so soon as it ceases to overflow, you may be quite sure that it has ceased to be full. The only full heart is the overflowing heart.” – Charles Spurgeon

“Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering, it is the presence of God.” – Sam Storms

“If you have no joy, there’s a leak in your Christianity somewhere.” – Billy Sunday

“I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let’s face it, friends make life a lot more fun.” – Chuck Swindoll

“It is the consciousness of the threefold joy of the Lord, His joy in ransoming us, His joy in dwelling within us as our Saviour and Power for fruitbearing and His joy in possessing us, as His Bride and His delight; it is the consciousness of this joy which is our real strength. Our joy in Him may be a fluctuating thing: His joy in us knows no change.” – Hudson Taylor

“Be seriously cheerful, and cheerfully serious.”  – Isaac Watts

“Joy is best sown in broken ground.” – Jack Wellman

“If the life of Christ is flowing through us, the water from the Rock turning the wheel, as it flows into the heart, it will fill us with joy; and if so, we cannot contain it, it must flow out.” – G.V. Wigram

“The joy of Christ and the joy of the world cannot consist together. A heart delighted with worldly joy cannot feel the consolations of the Spirit; the one of these destroys the other: but in sanctified trouble, the comforts of God’s word are felt and perceived in a most sensible manner.” – Abraham Wright

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