What is the Biblical Joy No One Can Take Away?

What Is Biblical Joy?

I thought about the word 'joy' today and realized that it is a word we almost never use anymore. We often talk about happiness but rarely or never about joy. The word joy today means an emotional state brought on by good fortune or well being. But joy in the Jewish world that Jesus lived in meant something different. Biblical joy is not based on circumstances but on remembering God's faithfulness and living in His presence.

Joy was rarely something experienced in isolation. It was a shared experience with others in community. It wasn't just shared with your friends and family, but joy was shared with the needy and the stranger. Joy didn't depend on your social status or how much money you had but on God's faithfulness to His people. You expressed joy outwardly by singing, dancing, or preparing a feast. The people's joy was a remembrance of their past deliverance, as in Exodus, and their even greater future deliverance of a Messiah.

Biblical Joy vs. Happiness

What a different concept of joy that is from the one we have today. Today we are told to find happiness (not so much joy) by finding time for yourself, by being sure that your own needs are taken care of first, and by following our dreams. But biblically our joy comes from remembering and celebrating God's faithfulness together. We are united as one body in Christ through His death and resurrection and because of this we are never alone.

Joy in Community

Can you see how much remembering played a role in joyfulness? If you had forgotten what God had done or would do in the future, then perhaps your neighbor or even a stranger could remind you. If times were bad and you were dwelling only on the present, then your poor guest might bring to mind the times when God provided for him and help you see things with a better perspective.

The outward displays of joy were spontaneous. And since you were not alone they would have been quite contagious as well. Who has not been tempted to share in the joy of a married couple by dancing at a wedding? Who hasn't sung along with a national anthem at a football game and felt a swelling of joy and pride? Who of us hasn't had our spirits lifted by a delicious family meal at a family reunion?

Jesus Promises Joy That Cannot Be Taken Away

Jesus reminds us of our joy in John 16:22,

"Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you."

Jesus was about to suffer and die but He makes a promise to His disciples that He will see them again and when He does "your joy no one will take from you." This is a promise for us as well as them. No one can take away the joy that Jesus will bring us. The joy Jesus is talking about comes from the reality of His resurrection and the promise of ours. It doesn't depend on shifting emotions or unpredictable circumstances. We find our delight in the Lord.

His disciples don't know it but soon they will see the resurrected Jesus, soon He will send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to live with them, and someday they will go to be with Him forever. Nothing can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:38-39).

So why don't we feel this joy He has promised? As a gift of the Spirit, joy often grows out of dedication and faithfulness. There are many things we can do to be sure we don't miss out on the joy Jesus speaks of.

How to Find Biblical Joy

Living a life of service to others brings joy because God created us to be a blessing to those around us. When we give of ourselves and share what God has done for us, we experience the blessing that comes from seeing His work touch the lives of others. A dear friend recently shared a story of healing on Facebook. Anyone who read that story would have been blessed. They would have seen God at work and smiled.

Every day, but especially when we are going through hard times, a moment spent thanking God for the many blessings we do have will get our minds refocused to see more joy. The psalmist reminds us that joy comes in the morning with the mercy of God (Psalm 30:5). We are to rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4) and be thankful in all circumstances.

We are strengthened by the joy we find in the Lord (Nehemiah 8:10). Praising Jesus by singing, listening to worship music, or journaling can be ways to renew our joy. According to Psalm 22:3, "God inhabits the praises of His people." He comes near to us when we praise Him.

When you were a child you may have brought your parents a simple dandelion flower from the yard as a gift. That gift didn't cost money but it meant the world to your parent. It was a heartfelt expression of your love to them. When we show our love to God, His joy fills our hearts.

Feeling the presence of the Lord (Psalm 16:11), realizing God is always near us, and praying throughout the day (1 Thessalonians 5:17) can make His joy a reality for us. Our prayers need not be elaborate or wordy, they only need to be heartfelt.

John explains to us in 1 John 1:4 that he is sharing these things so that "our joy may be complete." Fellowship with others and knowing that our Christian brothers and sisters are there for us in joy and in sorrow completes our joy. Our faith was never meant to be lived alone. We are a family of believers, with God as our Father, and Christ as our Savior, who is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters. This is the family many of us have never truly experienced, but in Jesus we can.

I remember so well many years ago attending a "Rally for Jesus" at the Superdome in New Orleans. Over 10,000 Christians had gathered to praise God. When we sang praises it was one of the most powerful experiences I have ever had. It was a taste of Heaven, a glimpse of the joy that comes when God's people gather together to worship Him. This is why we sing praises.

One of the most important ways we can keep joy in our hearts is by spending time in God's Word. We can read His Word, memorize it, even if it only part of a verse, and think about what it teaches us. As we reflect on Scripture we grow in the understanding of God's character and His promises. The Holy Spirit will bring to mind His Word when you need it most (John 14:26).

Remembering God's Faithfulness Brings Joy

We remember God's past faithfulness.

We remember Christ's resurrection.

We remember His promises.

We remember His Word.

We remember Him in worship.

We remember together as the body of Christ.

We remember our future hope.

What Steals Our Joy?

There are also things that can steal our joy. Be mindful of these. Being alone and not a part of the body of believers that join together can rob our joy. Today we hear so many people say, "I don't need church to worship God." Certainly we can worship God alone, but true joy is found in communion with other Christians.

The world can rob our joy. We get careless, we sin, and then we sin again, and soon we find ourselves drifting further from the One who really loves us (1 John 2:15-17; Psalm 32:3-5). Sin causes separation. Separation brings sorrow.

Living with Lasting Joy in Christ

Being obedient children brings joy. When you were little you wanted to please your parents. You wanted to do what was right so they would be proud of you. Our greatest desire is to hear our Lord say to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Can you imagine the joy those words will bring to you one day?

Like the love of a child who brings a flower to a loving parent, we lay our lives before God in thanks and praise. We remember the God we serve and why we serve Him. We claim the promises of Christ, those for today as well as those for the future. Finally, we hold fast to the truth that no one will take our joy from us. Jesus has promised it to all who abide in Him.