Three letters, that’s all it takes to spell this word “joy”; what exactly is joy? Webster’s dictionary says that it is. A.” The emotion evoked by well being, success, or good fortune or the prospect of possessing what one desires” (delight) B.”(bliss). Does joy have the same meaning in scripture? The answer is yes it does. We can find multiple examples of times of joy in scripture.

In the Old Testament, we see Joy covering a wide range of human experiences from intimate love (Song of Songs 4) marriage (Pr. 5:18), childbirth (Ps 113:9). We also read in various books of the Bible where people are full of joy because of their salvation and encounters with God spiritually and in deliverance (Ps 32:11), (Ps 40:16), (Ps 63:11). We see in (Luke 10:20) where the angels feel joy when an unbeliever becomes a believer and is born again. Another great one is the Lord is joyous when he finds a lost sheep, (Luke 15:3-7).

There are many more instances in the Bible where it speaks about experiencing joy and delight. So obviously it’s very important to the Lord that we feel joyous experiences, and that we express joy. All too often believers are seen as unhappy and without joy. I have heard people say things like ” If that is the way a Christian behaves I don’t want to be one! “Shouldn’t Christians look happier?” Christians should be the happiest and most joyful people on the earth regardless of circumstances. We have been saved, every sin forgiven, set apart, we are no longer on our way to hell, we are headed to heaven, our future home for all eternity, and the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s on our side seeing us through to the end. We cannot lose!

I had a conversation with someone and they shared with me that they had absolutely no joy, nothing that made them feel joyous. This was a believer and I found myself feeling sorry for them that they had become so inwardly focused that they were overlooking the most amazing thing that they could be joyful about. The place where joy should start is realizing that they will
never receive the punishment for their sin, and they will never see hell, and they have eternity with Jesus in their future.

(Eph. 1:3-14) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.” (Ps 49:15) But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For He will receive me.

I want Joy to be splashed across my face. I want others to wonder and ask me why I am so joyful all the time. I want the light of Christ to flood my soul so much that joy oozes out of me. Now, this may sound crazy to you, you might be one of those Christian’s that just cannot get any joy to bubble up let alone show up on your face. I seriously think that if you are that person you need to spend some time alone with the Lord and ask him to help you find that place of joy, the kind that others can see and then know that you have are in a relationship with the Lord.

I think of this old song I have sung many times:
I’ve got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart, where? Down in my heart, where? Down in my heart. Do you have Joy down in your heart? If so then let it move from your heart to your face so others can see it!