What brings you joy? Do you have joy? It’s not the same as happiness. To me, happiness is a feeling based on circumstances. Joy is contentment regardless of circumstances. That is what Jesus gives us through the Holy Spirit. That is what He gave me. Though sometimes I just need to remember His goodness, listen to the Holy Spirit, and show it.
Remember, joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit. All believers have it. Jesus said that if we abide in Him we will have joy to the fullest. He gave us the Spirit and as we allow the Spirit to work in our lives, the fruit will come.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
John 15:9-12
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
As we love others, as we love our Savior, as we remember the love Jesus has for us and the price He paid for the forgiveness of all of our sins, we have joy. How could we not, knowing the love that God has shown us? As He died on the cross, as He made the sacrifice for us, He had joy knowing that by His sacrifice we can be saved and become children of God
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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.
Jesus said we will have trials. He said that if the world hates him it will hate you also. We may be persecuted. We will have struggles in life. Don’t believe the “health and wealth” lies. That is not scriptural. What the Bible does say is that we will be able have joy through the troubles and pain. That Jesus will always be with us and will lead us through whatever storms we face.
1 Peter 4:12-14
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
We may not have riches and health on this earth, but we will have heavenly riches and a perfected body one day. We will be glorified in Christ and we will rejoice that He is glorified. Not only that, but through all of our struggles, that is where we grow the most.
James 1:2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
We will have sorrow. We will have struggles. But we know that we are saved. We know that Jesus died on the cross for us and that He was raised from the dead to live forever. We know that if we believe in Him we will have eternal life with Him. We know that He is our God and our Savior, that He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. And that should give us joy.
John 16:19-24
Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Jesus describes our life as like a woman having birth pains. Though we may have sorrow now, joy comes in the morning. And through the pain, we know that something better is coming and that gives us joy.
Psalms 30:4-6
Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. 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. Now in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.”
We have so much to be thankful for. Jesus Christ paid for our sins that we may be redeemed. We are declared righteous even though we don’t deserve it. No matter what we go through or what struggles we have, we can have assurance of our salvation, that the Lord is always with us, and that one day He will return and make all things right. Jesus says that our joy will be full, in abundance. In this life! How much more in the life to come!
1 Peter 1:3-9
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, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
We know that we have victory in Christ. We know that as believers we will be in heaven some day. We know that we have been saved by grace. Not by what we do, but by what Jesus did for us. By our faith in Him. By believing. No act, no deed will save us. But Christ will. Not only do we have joy from being saved, all of heaven rejoices with us for our salvation.
Luke 15:4-7
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”
Therefore let us rejoice. There is so much to be thankful for. God is good.
Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
We have no need to worry for God is good. He is faithful and righteous and He is with us. And He always keeps His promises. And he promises He will return and He will bring His people home.
Psalms 96:11-13
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and all its fullness; let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth.
My Daily Scriptures 