Joy

Joy is different than happiness. Joy is based off our relationship with God. happiness is emotional and is circumstantial. You may not always be happy but you can always have a sense of well being about you if you are walking with God.

The Presence of Joy Faded

Psalm 118:24 says:

Psalm 118:24 ESV

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Is there a day that the Lord has not made? No. So is there ever a day you have no reason to be joyful? No. As Christians joy should be characteristic of our lives. Now as humans we are going to experience days of weakness where the joy is not visible in our lives, but it is not gone. Psalm 30:5 says:

Psalm 30:5 ESV

For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Biblical Points

Joy is a work of God.

Joy cannot be artificially created.

God may withhold joy to discipline us.

Their may also be reasons he withhold it to test us.

Joy does not go away forever.

Application

Finding our identity in God is the key to discovering joy.

The world sells many counterfeits to finding joy.

One counterfeit is that joy is found in being true to your sexual identity. And among this they push many sexually perverse lifestyles. They normalize sex outside of marriage. Studies have shown couples who have waited have stronger and happier marriages.

Sociologist Mark Regnerus of the University of Texas, who was not involved in the study, said: “Couples who hit the honeymoon too early – that is, prioritise sex promptly at the outset of a relationship – often find their relationships underdeveloped when it comes to the qualities that make relationships stable and spouses reliable and trustworthy”.

Culture normalizes porn. Porn usage is linked to depression. Many people who look at porn almost daily test for severe depression.

People in the LGBTQ+ community have a three times higher depression rate.

Is joy being dampened in your life? What’s causing it?

Habitual sin will cause joy to fade.

Disregard of God’s word and call will cause joy to fade.

Remind those in seasons of dampened joy of their hope in Christ.

Joy in Trials

This goes along with being joyful always, we are going to briefly look at it in trials. James 1:2-4 says:

James 1:2–4 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Biblical Points

All trials that come before you should be faced with joy.

Scripture tells us in Hebrews 12:2 that Jesus went to the cross with joy. None of us will ever go through something horrendous and trying.

Jesus could face the agony of the cross because of the joy of God in His heart. Remember Jesus prayed for the cup to pass if possible. Remember Jesus sweated blood. Joy does not mean the task will be easy, but that is possible.

Joy in the trials aids in learning and growing in the trials.

Joy gives us focus and keeps us from getting distracted from the griping.

Application

Let prayer stay a daily part of your life to keep your spiritually focused.

Hod do you stay joyful in trials?

Joy gives spiritual focus.

How does joy help us learn in the trials?

1 Thessalonians 5:16 ESV

Rejoice always,

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