You know, every since I wrote that last blog on laughter, I have been completely joyful!  Laughing like there is no tomorrow, and just in general being silly and fun.  Back to my old self, one might say. And laughter and joy go hand in hand, so here we go!

The Bible talks a lot about joy.  Complete joy, abundant joy, joy without bounds, joy to come.  There are so many scriptures about joy that are extremely important.  So many, in fact that I wanted to list some of them here, but that would make it way too long.  So I will just point out a few of the highlights.

First of all, our joy can be shared.   Have you ever been so joyful and excited about something that you just have to tell others so they can feel the same way?  Yep, that’s it.  Shared joy!  Being joyful with your friends. “You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me… “(Philippians 2:18).

Secondly, our joy can be taken away.   Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you… (John 16:22). I’m sure if we allow ourselves to wallow in our grief, in our hardships, our joy will not be present or evident to a world that totally needs it. And besides that, WE need it!

Count it ALL joy when you face trials and temptations… (James 1:2).  Grief, trials, temptations are in our lives for a reason.   And here’s why…  “² Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various ^[c]trials,³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces ^[d]endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its perfect  result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Wow, to be perfect, to be changed, to be sculpted by our Daddy’s hand!  How awesome is that thought!  

So how do we get through these various instances where our happiness is gone, but we are still joyful?  Jesus is the perfect example!  …fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2.  He got through, he persevered because of “the joy set before Him”.  He kept His eyes on His Daddy and being back, once again, in His presence.  Isn’t this something we should look at every time we are going through some form of hardship in our own lives! When we have that inner joy, that peace that only God can give in the midst of grief and struggle, others are watching.  Let’s shine through the whole thing so they can want what we have, and we can share it with them! The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Psalms 28:7.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,… (Galatians 5:22).  So if it’s something we get from God’s spirit, isn’t that something to be desired, to be sought after! 

May you have a joyful and marvelous day!