“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” John 15:11
Joy is defined as a great sense of happiness and pleasure. But biblical, joy is choosing to respond to external circumstances with inner contentment and satisfaction by the help of the Holy Spirit. God will use these experiences to accomplish His work in and through our lives. Joy is not happiness but rather a passion of the soul based on our relationship with God. It’s a high point of vital connection with Jesus. It sounds strange to the human mind that Jesus would offer His joy when He was about to be crucified in a matter of hours. However, it was joy for Him to die on the cross to save those who would believe on Him.
Jesus’s way of life was not rules oriented. Rules tend to bring guilt for not measuring up to them. It was a joy of victory. For the joy set before Him Jesus endured the cross… Hebrews 12:2. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Jesus shared His joy with His disciples as He taught them on the way to Gethsemane.
Joy is an absolute necessity in our lives as His children. The fulness of joy is essential to winning the lost to Jesus and bearing life’s burdens, restfulness and walking in obedience. Nehemiah reminds us that “… the joy of the Lord is our strength” Nehemiah 8:10. It enables us to face the heartaches and trials of life and gives meaning to our lives. Often the frustrating circumstances in our lives are tools that God uses to teach us to depend on Him, draw closer to Him and grow in our character. We experience joy, when we abide in his presence!
There is a connection between love, obedience and joy! Here are a few examples of those who chose to focus on joy for our encouragement today. King David wrote about joy in the Psalms, Ruth in the face of tragedy, Joseph during hardships. Paul spoke constantly about the joy he had from the Lord.
Dear Lord, teach me to know true unshakeable joy that’s only found in you. Please tune my heart to joy daily.
Reflection: There is great joy in abiding in Christ. True joy does not originate from us nor is it generated by the circumstances of our lives.
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