Devotional: Joy
"The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish."
-Proverbs 10:28
The wicked are those who do not know God. They choose their own paths and live according to the compass of their hearts. They have rejected God because they “don’t need Him.” Their expectations and hopes are sourced within this world. And as we know, everything in this world is fleeting. The hopes of this world, like fame, wealth, and accolades, can be here today and gone tomorrow. They are momentary and perishable. With that way of life, the wicked have no hope. There is no investment in something of eternal value. As believers, however, we have the ultimate source of hope– Jesus Christ. He has given us the promise of everlasting life. He has promised to be with us here and now and that we will be with Him in glorified bodies in heaven. Because of that, we have a permanent source for true joy.
While the wicked can experience happiness, they lack hope that brings joy. There’s a difference between happiness and joy because happiness is a result of our “happenings,” whereas joy is a result of deep-seated hope for good, despite our happenings. I’ve been struggling with many health issues this year and those circumstances have affected my mood. It doesn’t bring happiness to have back pain or digestive complications or illness. But, it brings me joy knowing that God will redeem my body one day– that one day we will be free from sufferings. It also brings me joy knowing that God is in control. I can’t imagine going through life not believing that God intimately cares for me and that He knows my situation. He catches every tear (Psalm 56:8 “You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?”), He hears every prayer (Proverbs 15:29 “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous”), He sympathizes (John 11:35 “Jesus wept.”), and He is working out all things for our good (Romans 8:28). Nothing goes unnoticed or unseen by God and that brings me joy.
Scripture talks about having joy, particularly in our trials. James 1:2-3 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” What if we lived our lives with the perspective of being grateful for trials instead of being upset? The wicked despair in trials, but as God’s children, we have the ability to rejoice in them because they will be used for our growth and testing of faith, resulting in heavenly rewards. This is another reason we can have deep-seated joy despite our circumstances.
How do we renew our joy?
In Nehemiah 8:10, we see the popular verse that says, “...the joy of the Lord is your strength.” In Hebrew, the word for strength is “māʿôz,” which means “place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold.” My mind was blown when I read that definition and it brought tears to my eyes. “The joy of the Lord is my safety/protection/refuge.” Experiencing joy from God is our protection! We don’t have to be strong in our self-will; instead, we have the privilege of resting in His joy! We don’t have to strive to renew our joy; all we have to do is allow Him to renew it within us.
God renews our joy when we praise Him. When we are worshiping Him, we lose sight of our troubling circumstances. Like the famous hymn sings, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” We were created to worship Him, so when we do, it not only blesses God, but it blesses us too. Psalm 68:3-4 says,
“But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God; Yes, let them rejoice with gladness. Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Lift up a song for Him who rides through the deserts, Whose name is the LORD, and exult before Him.”
Rejoicing, joy, and gladness are interconnected with praising God.
God renews our joy through prayer. When we cast our cares on Him, we can receive His peace that passes all understanding. We can let go of the troubles and worries and be refreshed with the joy of knowing that God is in control.
God renews our joy when we abide in Him. Psalm 16:11 says,
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Abiding in Christ is remembering that He is with you in everything that you do. It’s being in tune with His Spirit as you go about your day and spending time with Him through prayer and reading His Word. Abide in His presence and joy will follow because it is a fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22.
God renews our joy when we remember our identity. When we remember that we are unconditionally loved, that we are God’s children, that we are forgiven, and that we are saved forever, how could our hearts not experience joy?
Take a Moment:
Have you allowed your life to be directed by happiness or by joy?
In what areas can you change your perspective so that you experience joy instead of despair?
When was the last time you spent time praising God (not just at church)? Spend time this week praising Him and being in His presence.
Find a scripture about joy and memorize it this week or keep it visible to read.
Allowing God to be the source of your joy is what it means to live by faith.
-Alina