My high school trigonometry book was the size and heft of two bricks placed side-by-side. I can still see its cover—cherry red with black lettering. I probably damaged my posture by hunching over that textbook for hours at a time—reviewing concepts late into the night. Still, I struggled to understand trigonometry’s sliced-up circles, cosines, and square roots.
Spiritually speaking, there’s another concept I find difficult to grasp: joy. My Bible dictionary says that joy is a quality—not just an emotion—derived from God, which characterizes a Christian’s life. Nice definition, but we need to know how to apply this information.
David experienced joy as he praised God for His blessings. The shepherd boy turned king “shout[ed] with joy” (Psalm 21:1) because God had granted him His heart’s desire. David’s blessings included success, prosperity, rescue from death, a leadership position, long life, and access to God’s unfailing love (Psalm 21:3-7). David rejoiced in the success and victory that God had given him—success that came about because he trusted in God (Psalm 21:7).
Maybe you’re thinking, Of course David was joyful— look at everything God furnished for him! Israel’s king, however, also endured intense heartache, defeat, and fear. David failed at fatherhood (1 Kings 1:6), fled from assassins (1 Samuel 19:18), messed up morally (2 Samuel 11:2-4), and lost an infant (2 Samuel 12:19). Through it all, his relationship with God enabled him to have joy. He testified, “Those who look to [God] for help will be radiant with joy” (Psalm 34:5).
God provides many other sources of joy for believers: His presence (Psalm 21:6), forgiveness for sin (Psalm 32:1-2), His Word (Jeremiah 15:16), and answered prayer (John 16:24). These features of our faith allow us to learn about joy during difficulty, as well as during life’s mountaintop moments.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Judges 16:22-31
More:
Read James 1:2-4 to see why trouble may be an opportunity for joy. Read Nehemiah 8:10 to learn about an outcome of joy.
Next:
What impact might a joyful attitude have on both believers and unbelievers in your life? What are some creative ways to express joy?
daisymarygoldr on March 16, 2012 at 12:43 am
The reason it is difficult to grasp the concept of joy is because to our natural mind joyfulness is associated with having it all together. But the Bible teaches us just the opposite—to consider it joy when troubles come our way (James 1:2).
To express joy in creative ways we do not have to pretend to be happy with our troubles. There is nothing blissful when the body is losing the battle to a debilitating disease, when we have lost our jobs, our homes, or lose our loved ones to divorce, drugs or death. Question is: how can we have joy in the midst of our sorrows?
As you rightly pointed out, our joy is in— our relationship with God, His presence and His Word which makes us joyful even in the most depressing circumstances. Our joy is in not in our situations but in the Lord. Even if we lose everything we will still have joy. How is this possible? The key is: during difficulty the joy of the Lord gives us strength to endure the pain.
So, in our distress we do cry out in pain but are comforted in knowing that weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. When we encounter evil our hearts ache and we do hurt. But our hope is anchored in God’s Word which promises that those who sow with tears will reap with joy. This is how Jesus endured the suffering and shame of the cross, the disciples rejoiced for getting flogged, and the Hebrew Christians were joyful in all their terrible suffering (Hebrews 10:32-39).
God’s Spirit living within us fills our lives with joy (Acts 13:52). No amount of preaching or psychological sessions of laughter therapy can produce this joy in us. Sadly, laughter soon is morphed into mourning, while joy that comes from it turns into heaviness. And no, this also does not refer to holy laughter that many churches deceptively practise. It is only when we are securely planted in Christ and grow deep root into His Word we mature to produce the fruit of joy in our lives.
Joy despite difficulty is the proof that a person is truly a Christian. When believers and unbelievers find joy in our lives even when everything is falling apart, they know that we have something they don’t have. A Joyful attitude is to live out the gospel and it attracts others to want to come to Jesus. Thanks Jennifer, for pointing out the features of our faith that allow us to learn and apply the information about joy during all times.
iamahumbleservant on March 16, 2012 at 12:50 am
i often remember that happiness do not necessarily means joy.
joy involves spiritualness. involves the overwhelming essence of God.
i understand joy is something meant to be freely experienced because that’s what God wanted for us. however in my weak faith, i have often deprived myself from this as i chose to be ‘happy or joyful’ with my limited means.
thank you for your post. i am reminded of joyfulness in all times, in all situations.
i shall once again look up to God and be joyful even when i’m in trial because i will be closer to God in these times.
God bless