Walking in Joy

These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain

in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:11)

Some of you may remember the popular a cappella song in the late 1980’s titled, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” by Bobby McFerrin. It was a catchy tune that reached No. 1 on the music charts, and I can still sing the steady chorus in my feeble attempt of a good Jamaican accent, “Don’t worry, be happy!”

Although happiness is a positive emotion when we are pleased or feel good over a particular thing or circumstance in our lives, there is a difference between happiness and joy. Both are positive emotions, but they are not the same thing.

Happiness is dependent upon circumstances. We are happy or become happy when good or favorable things happen to us. A person is typically happy when good things happen to them, and sad when bad things happen. For instance, a player is happy when the team wins, but sad when the team loses. Therefore, happiness is an emotion based on circumstances. 

However, joy is a positive emotion that is not dependent upon circumstances. Because joy is a deep-seated emotion of internal well-being rather than coming from external temporary circumstances. 

Now, an unbeliever can experience the human emotion of joy in their life, just as they can know the human emotion of love. These emotions, and many more are given to everyone, believers and unbelievers, by God’s “common” grace. But only Christians receive God’s supernatural love, joy, and peace, and all the other “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23), through our relationship with Jesus Christ. 

God gives His Joy only through Faith in Jesus Christ

Joy, as defined in the Bible, is a “fruit of the Spirit” given by God to those who are spiritually born again and receive salvation by God’s grace through faith in Christ. When the Holy Spirit is given to the believer by God (Rom. 5:5), we receive the “fruit of the Spirit.” Then, as we are sanctified by growing in Christ, the “fruit of the Spirit” grows in our lives, and we begin to “bear much fruit” when we abide in Christ (John 15:5). 

God’s joy does not come from trying to be happy or putting on an enthusiastic act for others. God’s joy is from the inside out, from the heart, through our relationship with Christ. The more we love Christ, trust Him, and grow in our relationship with Him, the more we will grow in joy. Even when we are sad or going through hard times, we can have inexpressible joy because of our faith in Christ. The Apostle Peter said, “Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Pet. 8).

Walking in Joy

Jesus was full of joy and prayed to God the Father that His disciples and all believers throughout history would have the joy of Christ in them. 

But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. (John 17:13)

These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:11)

It is God’s will for all believers to have the joy of Christ. Although we will all face sad and difficult times in our lives. We may even be overwhelmed with grief and deep sorrow. However, Jesus Christ promises all believers that He will never leave or forsake us and we can go through any trial walking in the joy of the Lord. Paul says in his letter to the Thessalonians that we are to “be joyful always.” 

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV)

By God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, all believers are given the joy of Christ, and the joy of the Lord is our strength! (Nehemiah 8:10)