Are you experiencing great joy! We tend to use the terms happiness and joy synonymously. If life is going well, we feel happy, but if we have problems, then we are unhappy.

God offers us joy. Our happiness is often determined by our external circumstances, but joy is based upon our relationship with God. You can experience a life of great joy as you appropriate the good news. That’s the message the Angel brought to the shepherds:

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;” (Luke 2:10)

The good news is we don’t need to be enslaved to our fears – they can be overcome. We are commanded to have only have one fear – we are to fear God. Oswald Chambers declared, “The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else.” This not a craven timidity but a reverential awe.

The message of the good news is that God loves us and His perfect love overcomes our fears. Do you know His great joy? On the night before He was crucified Jesus encouraged His disciples:

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

The world offers many empty substitutes in place of joy. When people stop believing in an afterlife, everything depends on making the most of this life and they often seek the passing pleasures of happiness rather than the enduring treasure of joy. Jesus also told His disciples how to receive His joy:

Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. (John 16:24)

As we walk by the Spirit, we will experience the fruit of the Spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Joy is independent of our external circumstances, but is based upon a deep and abiding relationship with God. This is the reason why adversity does not need to take away your joy. Joy is available for all people and that includes you! God knows what you’re going through and He cares.

From his lonely prison cell the Apostle Paul penned one of the most joy filled letters in the Bible. Joy is woven through the tapestry of the book of Philippians like strands of gold. We have a tendency to feel our way into good behavior, but we need to behave our way into God feelings as Paul exclaimed:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

Regardless of what you’re going through you can choose to rejoice!

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

Follow me on twitter:  rickhiggins5