Are you looking for joy? Do you long to have joy in your life? Have you found joy? Or is it a fleeting feeling that comes and goes? Have you discovered that your joy is connected to your faith in Jesus?
We all seek joy in our life. Though, for many people, they define joy as happiness, laughing, and getting everything they wish for. That is not how joy is defined by God. It is not to say you won’t receive those, but it is neither dependent nor all encompassed by them.
Joy is expressed and defined in several passages throughout the New Testament. The first thing to remember is joy comes from the Holy Spirit. When we receive the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work in our lives, joy is one of the fruits we experience (Galatians 5:22). In other words, we cannot generate true joy on our own, it is a gift.
We experience joy when we pray for others (Philippians 1:4). Now, that makes sense, doesn’t it? Don’t we fill a peace or calm about our lives when we pray for others? This is one component of the joy we are blessed with by God. Our overall joy is increased as we pray for others.
We are told to count it joy when we experience difficulties because of our belief in Jesus (James 1:2). Those difficulties may come in the form of persecution, which may mean being ridiculed, laughed at, teased, or otherwise ostracized. As we experience these difficulties, we are to give joyful thanks to God for the inheritance we have from Him (Colossians 1:11-12).
Our joy is connected to our faith. As our faith increases, our joy increases. The joy we experience through our faith is inexpressible, as we see in today’s passage. In other words, we have no earthly explanation for the joy we have. It comes from God. Therefore, it is also a glorious joy, rooted in the glory of God.
True joy is more than happiness, laughing, or getting what we want. Sure, those will satisfy us for a short period of time. However, joy is something we have at all times. It includes peace, calm, contentment, confidence, and belief that God will provide for us in every situation.
I pray we all experience the true joy given to us by God. I pray we allow the Holy Spirit to produce joy in our lives. I pray each one of us believes in Jesus and increase our faith in Him. Experience true joy. Allow the Holy Spirit to bless you. Increase your faith. Believe in Jesus.
1 Peter 1:8-9 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.
Marty Pressey 