The Bible says, “The joy of the LORD is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).” But joy is not what we usually associate with God. Yet God is a God of joy. The Bible promises that God will fill you with joy in his presence (Psalm 16:11) and that “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). This joy of God is the source of great strength for our daily living.
Joy Because You’re Forgiven
This joy can be yours too when you trust in Jesus and accept the forgiveness of sins that can be yours through his shed blood on the cross.
See, the joy of the Lord cannot be yours when there is anything that separates you from him. Refusing to forgive others, holding a grudge, entertaining unclean thoughts in your mind, cherishing sin in your heart, are all things that bring a wedge in the personal relationship between you and God.
When you confess your sins and turn away from it, the blood of Jesus cleanses you and makes you friends again with God. Then you experience great joy; the joy of being forgiven especially.
Often the devil comes to steal away our joy by tempting us to rebel, disobey, and sin against God. That is why King David after having confessed his sins prayed, “Let me hear joy and gladness, . . . Restore to me the joy of your salvation (Psalm 51:8, 12).” Yes, salvation is good news of great joy for all the people, for it is found in Jesus the Saviour (Luke 2:10, 11).
Friends with God and Joy
Again strength is not something with usually associate with joy. We might not see words like power, might, dynamite etc in connection with joy. Yet the Bible states that strength is found in the joy of the Lord.
This joy swells up from the assurance that God is with you. It comes from the certainty that God will never leave you nor forsake you. So joy is found in the companionship you can have with God.
He is there with you every step of the way till the very end of your lif’e journey. And knowing that God is holding your hand gives you great joy. He is Immanuel, God with us.
Joy Is God-Given
The Bible also talks about joy as the fruit of the Spirit. That means this joy we are talking about is not initiated by us. It does not have a human origin.
This joy is a work of the Spirit of God in our lives. How it happens is hidden from our eyes. But people can see this joy radiating from us.
It is not something that entertainment of any sort can give us. But this joy is deeper than any of earth’s happiness.
So ask God to remove any hindrances in your heart and mind so that you can experience the fullness of joy that God alone can give.
Joy Is Not Dependent on Circumstances
Finally, there are instances in the Bible which shows us that the joy of the Lord does not depend on circumstances.
Two of the disciples of Jesus named Paul and Silas were put in prison after being beaten. But they were found praying and singing hymns to God. And Paul, on another occasion, while he was put in jail for a long period, wrote: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice (Philippians 4:4)!”
So the joy of the Lord rises above negative circumstances that you and I might find ourselves in.
The Psalmist declared: “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and new wine abound” (Psalm 4:7 Holman Christian Standard Bible). King David is saying that his joy coming from God is greater than the happiness of people who find it in their material wealth.
Even when that is at their best, he says, it fades into insignificance compared to the bubbling, lasting, and great joy he has from God in his heart.
Say Hallelujah and Share the Joy of God and of Angels
Sometimes, just saying Hallelujah (which means Praise the Lord) with earnestness and sincerity can lift your heart in praise to God and fill your hearts with great joy.
You and I might not feel like saying it when in trouble when heart and mind is torn apart due to difficulties or suffering. But why not try it. God will give you the strength to do so.
Say Hallelujah over and over, again and again with a heart full of thanks and gratitude to God. This praise to God, which is a joyous exclamation of God’s exceeding greatness, will certainly fill your hearts with joy because heaven resounds with joyous shouts of Hallelujah’s that angels sing.
So let us do as is said in Psalm 136:1, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.” Hallelujah. Amen.
“Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song (Psalm 95:1, 2)”
“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs (Psalm 100:1, 2).”
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