Joy

The New Testament is a joyful book. The Greek word for joy occurs in it as a noun 60 times and as the verb rejoice 72 times. The birth of Jesus is “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10) and joy is what Jesus wants for us: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11; 17:13).

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Such joy doesn’t depend on the absence of pain and hardship, but can be known in the midst of all our difficulties. Rejoicing and weeping co-exist side by side (Rom.12:15). Paul, writing of his own many struggles, says we are “sorrowful yet all always rejoicing” (2 Cor.6:10). How? The key is that we rejoice not in our circumstances but “in the Lord” (Phil.3:1; 4:4; Hab.3:17-18).

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“In the Lord” points us to the joy of the resurrection (John 16:19-20) which is the ground of an eternal hope that even now means we can “greatly rejoice... in all kinds of trials” (1 Pet.1:3-9). It’s his constant presence with us through the Holy Spirit which makes this possible, however tough life might be – “joy in the Holy Spirit” is a defining aspect of God’s Kingdom (Rom.14:13; Ps.16:11). So pray this blessing often: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy... by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom.15:13).