Why is it when life appears to be going well you may still lack joy?  Perhaps one of the reasons is that you may be looking for joy in the wrong places?  Are you attempting to find joy in your own achievements or accomplishments? 

 What was the source of the Apostle Paul’s joy?  The book of Philippians seems to be a commentary on joy.  Picture the scene: Paul is sitting in a dark, lonely, and perhaps cold Phillipian prison.  I am sure bugs and rodents were crawling around his prison cell.  It is an environment that probably would not be the cause for much happiness.  Yet, Paul’s epistle mentions the word joy or rejoice in every chapter.

Life has no shortage of situations that can be a cause for grief rather than for joy.  For example, you know it’s a bad day when your friend says, “Listen–that book I borrowed from you, it wasn’t a first edition or anything important was it?”  Or you know it’s a bad day when your hairdresser says, “Now before you look at this in the back remember it will look much longer after it’s been fluffed up a bit.”  If we attempt to find joy from our surroundings we may be disappointed.                                                    

What was the source of Paul’s joy?  His joy was not in circumstances or even his own achievements, the source of Paul’s joy was in the Lord.  Philippians 4:4 states, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”  Regardless of Paul’s circumstances he decided to rejoice.   If you desire a life of joy, then you must find your joy in the Lord.  Be diligent to develop your relationship with God, and as you do His joy will fill your life. May the joy of the Lord be your strength!