There is a common misconception in the world about joy.
When I look at the Merriam Webster online dictionary, the first two definitions are not exactly right. The first says joy is a feeling of great happiness. The second says it is a state of great happiness. Then I get to the third one…
Joy is a source or cause of delight.
That’s it!
Joy isn’t just something we should feel or express during happy times. Christians should exude joy all the time. Why? Because our joy comes from Jesus.
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.
Romans 8:11
And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, even on our worst day, we have joy because He is walking beside us. Jesus said:
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
John 15:9-11 (NLT, emphasis added)
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.
As Jesus approached what He knew to be the end of the human portion of His ministry, He warned the disciples repeatedly that like Him, they would face many challenges and trials. Through His human nature, even Jesus became emotional during some of these events, yet He still always led with love and joyful spirit.
James even reminds us of Jesus’ teachings. He said, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 (NLT)
Notice the order of things. Joy doesn’t come after we persevere and get through life’s trials. It comes first.
Take heart. If you know God, He is with you on your darkest day. Let the joy of that fact flood the darkness with impenetrable light. Put joy first. The rest will fall into place.
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