THE GIFT OF JOY

“Joy, unspeakable joy
An overflowing well
No tongue can tell
Joy, unspeakable joy
Rises in my soul, never lets me go” –  Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy) by Chris Tomlin.

There is something that gets no press on the news today: joy. There seems to be little news that makes you smile, let alone be happy. Joy is a scarce commodity today, but it shouldn’t be.  But what is joy? Many people confuse joy with happiness or an intense feeling of excitement. The Bible chooses to emphasize joy over happiness. Joy is deeper and richer than happiness or excitement. Happiness can quickly shift with a person’s mood and circumstances. Joy, on the other hand, does not depend on our feelings toward our situation. 

Joy can be found if you know where to look.  We can find real and complete joy only in God. Scriptures direct us to find joy in our hope in God. For example, Psalm 16:11 says, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”  Philippians 4: 4-5 instructs us to rejoice in the Lord: “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.”  In John 15:11, Jesus tells us, “ I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”  

Our relationship with Jesus is our greatest joy. He gives us complete joy, which we cannot find apart from Him. His joy is a gift that we can choose to accept and pursue no matter where we are in life or our situation. This Christmas, ask God to help you find joy in your inadequacy, failures, busyness, tiredness, loneliness, pain, anxiety, and unwantedness.

To have such joy, there’s something we have to do first. We have to trust God first, and then God fills us with His joy. It’s a gift from Him to have joy. But we have to trust despite our circumstances. Romans 15:13 says, “ I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him…. “

God wants you to experience absolute joy. A joy that can’t be captured in words. An overflowing joy that fills you to the brim and makes you want to start singing the chorus of Handel’s Messiah suddenly.

This month, we celebrate the source of our joy. Jesus came that we may have life and have it to the full (John 10:10). These words were spoken long before Christmas tree wish lists and mounds of presents. His promise of a full life had nothing to do with things, programs, or even lofty dreams. Don’t miss out on absolute joy this Christmas, either. Jesus is our salvation, our hope, our peace. This is where joy flows freely in and out of our lives. This is where Christmas comes to life.

 Discussion Questions:

1. What is the difference between the world’s version of joy and the Bible’s version of “great joy”?
2. Describe your thoughts and reflections on how the gospel is designed to bring us “great joy.” How do we go about having this great joy?