When we worship God Almighty, communing with Him in spirit, there’s a joy that transcends this world.
Happiness is the goal most of us pursue while our hearts long for joy. We’re happy when things go our way or circumstances are pleasant, when we feel good, reach a goal, or have success. Happiness is temporal and only lasts until a problem pops up, we fail, or we get sick. Sometimes it’s elusive for no understandable reason.
Joy is a gift God gives our hearts that circumstances can’t steal. It flows from within, not from what happens. For those who believe in Jesus Christ, joy comes from what He has already done and is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Here are 7 joys we find in Him:
1. The Joy of Salvation: Rescued from Sin and Death
Any honest person admits something is wrong with this world and with us. Pain, sorrow, and death stalk us all. Life is fleeting. We try valiantly to stop sickness, pain, aging, and death, but we’re helpless. We want to be good but instead are burdened by the weight of our sins.
Jesus Christ came to earth to rescue us from sin and death. Scripture tells us, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering” (Romans 8:1-3 NIV).
Jesus lived a perfect life required by law, then chose to take our place and die to pay for our sins. His perfect sacrifice satisfied the law’s demands. God’s mighty power raised Him from the dead and seated Him at God’s right hand in heaven. (Ephesians 1:19-21)
He now offers this salvation as a gift to anyone who believes in Him. What could bring more joy? Peter, one of Jesus’s closest followers, wrote, “Though you have not seen 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” (1 Peter 1:8-9 NIV).
Knowing we have eternal salvation gives us everlasting joy.
2. The Joy of Forgiveness: Our Sins Are Washed Away
Remember when a wrong choice weighed on your conscience? You held it as a secret in your heart and felt the burden of guilt. Perhaps you were fearful of being discovered.
Carrying a guilty conscience is a heavy load. Some seek to silence the guilt with alcohol, drugs, busyness, or other escapes. And it’s possible to harden your heart so you stop feeling the pain. When you decide instead to confess your sin to Jesus and know His forgiveness, what a relief and joy! Confession truly is good for the soul.
John, beloved follower of Christ, wrote, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV). When we agree with the Lord Jesus Christ that we’ve done wrong and believe He died for us and rose again, we realize He has forgiven and cleansed us. What joy!
3. The Joy of Unconditional Love: Fully Known and Fully Loved
Everyone longs to be loved unconditionally. We desire to be fully known and still loved. Sometimes I think, “If they knew the real me, they wouldn’t like me.”
Almighty God, our Creator, knows us better than we know ourselves. We can easily deceive ourselves or make excuses. But we stand transparent before God. He knew when we were in our mother’s womb that we would choose to do wrong. Yet, He loved us anyway.
Scripture says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Romans 5:8-9 NIV).
Paul, an early Christ follower, also taught, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39 NIV).
He reveals that God “chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:4-5a NIV). Amazing! Before we were born, God decided to give us His love by sending Christ as a sacrifice for our sins.
We can say with Moses, Old Testament prophet and leader, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14 NIV). Knowing we are loved unconditionally fills us with joy.
4. The Joy of Surrender: Find Freedom in Letting Go
The root of sin is pride and a rebellious desire to be in charge of our own lives. We want to be our own god. All the while, we have a wonderful, perfect Creator who has given us everything we have. Every breath we take and every beat of our heart is because of His grace.
Pride leads us astray. We believe the lie that we know better than God what’s good for us, clinging tightly to our own will. Scripture teaches us to come to God in humility and surrender our will to His, but we stubbornly resist.
Peter warned us to clothe ourselves in humility because “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5b NIV). When we insist on being in charge of our own lives, we’re resisting God and will not find joy.
Surrendering requires faith. The writer of Hebrews tells us the one who comes to God in faith must “believe that he exists, and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6b NIV). When we believe God is good and He rewards those who have faith, we can let go, knowing He will give us what is best.
5. The Joy of His Presence: Intimacy with God
Speaking to His heavenly Father, King David of Old Testament times declared, “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11b ESV). David knew from experience the joy of intimacy with the Lord God.
When we worship God Almighty, communing with Him in spirit, there’s a joy that transcends this world. We can choose to praise and adore our Father despite circumstances, suffering, pain, or sorrow and know a joy and peace that surpasses understanding.
Loving Him in the middle of a mundane day transforms that moment into rejoicing. Joy in His presence is always a choice.
Jesus taught that when we obey Him, we remain in His love: “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” (John 15:10-11 NIV).
God wants to share His joy with us.
6. The Joy of Service: Use Your God-Given Talent
Paul taught this truth, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV). God has already equipped us to serve Him and bring Him glory.
Knowing God has gifted each believer, Paul instructs, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10 NIV).
Use your strengths to serve others: lead a Bible study, serve in the nursery, take meals to hurting families, volunteer at your local pantry, go on a mission trip, donate generously to those in need, join a prayer team, give your testimony, but find the place right for you.
Joy results when we are fulfilling our God-given purpose and using the gifts He has given us.
7. The Joy of Community: Shared Joy
Paul often expressed the joy others brought to him, as he did when writing to the church in Philippi: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy” (Philippians 1:3-4 NIV). What deep affection he expressed for the believers in Thessalonica: “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 NIV).
Every believer in Jesus Christ is given the gift of the Holy Spirit, and joy is one of His fruits (Galatians 5:22). As we yield to Him, we know the fullness of joy which increases when we unite with other Christians.
What incredible gifts we’re given when we trust in Jesus Christ for salvation! The potential for joy in any situation is available to us. Until Jesus returns, this life will include pain, sorrow, and death. Trouble pursues us. Jesus promised the world would hate us because of Him. Choosing to follow Christ means going against the world’s current and fighting our selfish desires. When we pursue and remain in Him, there’s joy beyond anything the world or the flesh can give.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NIV).
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Ian Stauffer
Susan Aken writes devotions and articles for Wholly Loved Ministries, is an Oklahoma native who’s lived in Nebraska since 1987 and has been in public education for over thirty years. She and her husband have one son and a wonderful daughter-in-law. Besides writing she has a passion for special needs and prayer ministries. She enjoys time with family, reading, photography, movies, walking in nature, and a nice cup of tea. She believes life is a journey and we’re all in different places. Jesus is everything to her and it’s all about grace. Visit her at susanaken53.wordpress.com or on Facebook.
