6 Sources of Real Joy Never Taken From Us
Real joy is the end result of God’s faithful promises. The Lord adds these spiritual sources of joy to our lives that no person, not even the enemy, can take from us.
Still further, joyfulness is:
Ammunition for difficult circumstances and people.
The best medicine for a downcast spirit.
A shield against attacks from the enemy.
So let’s look at it in a broader sense. And not just what we believe and know, but also how it manifests in our lives—how we live joyful.
You see, unlike images, there’s not a filter for joyful. Instead, it lies beneath the surface and radiates through.
God wants to bring a smile back to our face. But more than that.
He wants to bring rejoicing back to our soul.
Real joy is the end result of God’s faithful promises. The Lord adds these spiritual sources of joy to our lives that no person, not even the enemy, can take from us. Click To TweetGod provides many wonderful sources of rejoicing. But in this article, we look at 6 along with Bible verses for each one.
And I love powerful refrains in certain songs and poems. So after each of our points, repeat the refrain I include out loud.
Sources of Real Joy: Salvation, God’s Works and Word
1.) In salvation.
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12
“My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.” Psalm 71:23
Is my joy showing through?
Because there’s no filter for joyful.
And it’s never shaken or taken.
“My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.” Psalm 71:23 ESV Click To Tweet2.) In God’s works.
“… for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.” Psalm 63:7
“For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.” Psalm 92:4
“Shouts of joy resound in the tents of the righteous. The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things.” Psalm 118:15
Is my joy showing through?
Because there’s no filter for joyful.
And it’s never shaken or taken.
3.) In God’s Word.
“Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.” Psalm 119:111
Is my joy showing through?
Because there’s no filter for joyful.
And it’s never shaken or taken.
Sources of Real Joy: God’s Strength and Presence
4.) In God’s strength.
“… for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Isaiah 8:10
Is my joy showing through?
Because there’s no filter for joyful.
And it’s never shaken or taken.
5.) In God’s presence.
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
Is my joy showing through?
Because there’s no filter for joyful.
And it’s never shaken or taken.
Source of Joyfulness in Christ
6.) In Jesus.
His birth.
The wise men, “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” Matthew 2:10
Angels proclaimed to the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:10b
His resurrection.
Women who visited the empty tomb. “So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” Matthew 28:1, 8
Jesus came from glory to the manger…to the cross…to a tomb that couldn’t hold Him, ascending back to heaven’s glory. Oh, what a Savior!
Is my joy showing through?
Because there’s no filter for joyful.
And it’s never shaken or taken.
We have real joy in Jesus. Jesus came from glory to the manger…to the cross…to a tomb that couldn’t hold Him, ascending back to heaven’s glory. Oh, what a Savior! Click To Tweet
What aspect of the refrain or source of joy resonates most with you?
All Scripture ESV.
Featured photos from our recent YouTube Channel video, Friday’s Forever.
Last week we discussed, How to Know Jesus and Make Him Known.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Recharge Wednesday/Let’s Have Coffee/Tune in Thursday/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth) and Faith On Fire.
© 2022 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
Loved your refrain, Karen, and wrote it down in my scripture journal. May our joy in the Lord always show and always shine!
Blessings!
Thank you, Martha. “For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.” Psalm 92:4 (ESV) God bless, friend. Hope you are getting stronger by the day.
So much to love about this post. Well said author! I love how joy isn’t dependent upon our circumstances, but is the well that we can draw from when circumstances attempt to overwhelm us and steal our joy! Another great post Ms. Karen. Thank you ma’am.
Agree, J.D. Real joy is within us and comes directly from the Lord. Not only can no one take it from us, but it’s also not affected by our circumstances as you point out. Instead, it’s deep down in our heart. “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
It’s a challenge to maintain joy in the face of challenges. Holy Spirit is the key to keeping joy and troubles in their proper perspective. Part of your post that sticks out to me is the resurrection. I marvel at the change from Friday to Sunday within the hearts and minds of Christ’s followers. How dreadful it all seemed, how wonderful it truly was. Even so, I have to work to keep my heart and mind focused on the wonderful I can’t see, not the dreadful I can readily see.
Beautifully said, Nancy. Grateful resurrection power and the Holy Spirit dwell in us, too. “I have to work to keep my heart and mind focused on the wonderful I can’t see, not the dreadful I can readily see.” Yes!
Amen. I pray my joy in the Lord shines through in every moment. 🙂
Melissa, your joy in the Lord is shining through. “Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.” Psalm 119:111 ESV
Thank you for this wonderful inspiration today. I am counting my blessings as I remember all the joys the Lord provided me through the years. And may your joy continue to shine for all.
Yvonne, a sweet way to state this. So grateful we have real joy in Jesus.
Love how you said, “God wants to bring rejoicing back to our soul.”
Thanks, Ava. During these troubled times, it’s something we need.
Hey, Karen! I’m working on a memoir about my struggle with my autoimmune disease, which started back in 1988. I’ve spent hours every day working on this memoir for the past month. The full revelation of what was actually going on in my body didn’t occur until 2016. That’s a long time to be sick and without treatment. Those years were filled with six relocations, kids having horrific trials, one daughter needing brain surgery, and all the while my body rebelling and falling apart with no answers.
It was so hard to know how to trust the Lord during that time, for it spanned decades, but I hunkered down, newly acquainted with studying God’s Word back in 1993, etc., when it all began.
AND SO, I love these points you’ve used here, because I could entirely relate to God in each of the these points, and anyone in trial would be able to find joy in the Lord during hardship with these.
In God’s works.
“… for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.” Psalm 63:7
3.) In God’s Word. “Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.” Psalm 119:111
And then when it was incredibly hard, these were so essential: Sources of Real Joy: God’s Strength and Presence 4.) In God’s strength. “… for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Isaiah 8:10
And the rest of the points. You’ve got a powerful post here today for those in any kind of trauma or long-term challenge.God bless you, sister! And thank you for the encouragement! Sorry this is so long.
Oh Melinda, I have read and know parts of your story, and it is surely heartbreaking you struggled so long without any real answers or help medically. When things happen that are hard, it’s a comfort to know the joy of the Lord is not dependent on our circumstances. And even that spiritual truth can be a hard thing in and of itself to grasp and believe in the heat of the fire.
During discouraging and traumatic times, I asked the Lord to bring a smile back to my face and rejoicing back to my soul. And I cling to versees like Psalm 63:7. God bless, dear sister. Praying your memoir is a blessing to others who have walked a similar path.
As I read point number 1, the song Uphold Me by The Winans came to mind and now I am playing it. I love them! The hook says:
Uphold me with thy free spirit, whatever you do Lord, don’t take your joy from me.
Uphold me, shape me, make me, whatever you do Lord, don’t take your joy from me.
You can appoint me, anoint me, choose me, use me, whatever you do Lord, don’t take your joy away from me.
Lord, you can rebuke me, reprove me, chastise me, and revive me, whatever you do Lord, don’t take your joy from me.
The last line of the song says; The joy of the Lord is my strength, whatever you do Lord, don’t take your joy from me! Amen! We need the joy of the Lord.
Hey Yvonne, thanks for sharing the song. I’m not familiar with it, but the lyrics are powerful. And we do need the joy of the Lord, it gives us strength and keeps us grounded in Christ despite our circumstances and even other people. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12 ESV
I have been writing a devotion about rejoicing, and sadly realizing that we don’t do it much. With God, there is so much to be praising and rejoicing. Praising him has the added bonus of bringing a smile to our face.
The devotion sounds wonderful, Theresa. It is sad we don’t rejoice more, especially since rejoicing is mentioned often in the Bible. I’ll stay on the look out for your devotional.
Amen to this! REAL joy comes in the hope we have in the Lord, as you show us in this excellent piece.
Thank you, Jessia. So grateful we have real joy in Jesus, never shaken by our circumstances and never taken away from us.
Loved, “God wants to bring a smile back to your face and rejoicing to your soul”-amen! Thx for such an uplifting post!
Glad this encouraged you, Jan. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. “Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.” Psalm 119:111 ESV
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“God wants to bring a smile back to our face. But more than that.
He wants to bring rejoicing back to our soul.”
Karen, this is powerful to think on. He want to give us more than a smile. Rejoicing comes as we take delight in something. He wants us to find our delight in Him for then we will experience joy, and be a display of joy to those around us.
Yes, Joanne, real joy is deep within us and more than an expression on our face, it’s the expression of our soul. I pray we delight in Him and others see joy in us. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.