A

What Is Joy?

Collins English Dictionary: a deep feeling or condition of happiness or contentment

Websters College Dictionary: a feeling or state of great delight or happiness; keen pleasure; elation.

Websters American Dictionary (1828): The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, or some good possessed, -or- by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits.

A1

Psalms 16:11

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

ÓKNOWLEDGE: God has shown us the path of life, both earthly and eternal, through his Word.

A2

Proverbs 16:20

He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.

ÓHAPPINESS: A firm trust in the Lord and in His Word, will make us happy people in this life and the next.

A3

Romans 5:1-2, 11

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ... And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

ÓPEACE: Knowing that Jesus has already paid the price for our sins, should give us peace and security

B

Does Having Joy Mean We Will Always Feel Happy?

B1

Philippians 4:4,12

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! ... I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

ÓWe should not expect, nor should we even desire to be happy all of the time. Difficult times can enable us to grow in ways that we otherwise could not. We must maintain our joy during these trying times.  

B2

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.

ÓTrials can help us to develop godly characteristics: patience, compassion, trust, perspective, wisdom

B3

Acts 5:41

So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.

C

What Is The Source Of Joy?

C1

Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

C2

Psalms 86:4

Rejoice the soul of Your servant, For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

C3

Psalms 146:3-5

Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.  His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans perish.  Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God.

D

How Can I Become More Joyful?

D1

Psalms 112:1

Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who delights greatly in His commandments.

ÓSome people seem to dread God’s commandments, considering them as shackles, but the one who truly loves God, delights in his commandments, knowing that they serve to make him more godly. 

D2

Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.

ÓWith no law, anarchy and chaos ensues - people do not restrain themselves for anything. We should be thankful for God’s laws that bring order and goodness into our society.   

D3

John 13:17

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

E

How Can I Be Joyful In Hard Times?

E1

1 Peter 4:12-13

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.

E2

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls;  Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

ÓRegardless of how little material wealth we have, we can still rejoice in the God of our salvation.

That is something no one can take away from us.

E3

Romans 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "for your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

E4

2 Corinthians 4:14-18

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

ÓHopefully even if our physical condition decreases, our spiritual condition can and should increase.

E5

Matthew 6:19-21

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

F

What Brings God Joy?

F1

Psalms 147:10-11

He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.

F2

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

F3

Zechariah 8:8

I will bring them back, And they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. They shall be My people And I will be their God, In truth and righteousness.'

ÓBeing in close fellowship with the men and women He created is what God wants for all mankind.

G

Promises from God

G1

1 Peter 3:13-14

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.

G2

Psalms 23:6 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

G3

Matthew 11:28-29 

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.