“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
“In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name” (Psalm 3:21).
At any given moment, we can feel spikes and drops in our emotions—peace, sadness, fear, hope… As believers, God intends His joy to be our emotional anchor to keep us centered in Christ. We don’t need sunny skies to experience this. We can know His joy, even on our lowest days, because we know we are HIS and He is always with us. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).
Joy doesn’t automatically overcome us when we accept Christ (though it can!). For most of us, the seed of joy is planted, then sprouts and grows in our deepening relationship with Him. Over time, we learn that if we rejoice in the Lord, trust Him, and stay rooted in His word, we will never be without His supernatural gladness. Paul demonstrated this while imprisoned for his faith when he said, “I have learned in whatever situation I am in, to be content” (Philippians 4:11). This verse indicates Paul didn’t have this outlook automatically or immediately, but he experientially learned it over time. We must give ourselves grace while we strive for this contentment. We glorify God when our souls reflect satisfaction and joy in Him.
Guiding Points:
Call to Action: Ask God to help you release to Him anything that might be standing in the way of having His joy as you read these scriptures:
“Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8).
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy” (James 1:2).
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
Prayer: Father God, we rejoice in You today and praise Your holy name! We ask that You help us lay before You anything that is keeping us from experiencing pure joy in You. We want to glorify You in all we do. In Your precious name, we pray, Amen!
Final Thought: Joy in God is not earthly derived, but supernatural—it comes from above.
Experiencing Supernatural Joy in God
The Strongest Faith in the Deepest Pain
“For she said, ‘If I touch even His garments, I will be made well’” (Mark 5:28).
Walking Confidently in His Light
“For once, you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So, live as people of light!” (Ephesians 5:8).
On the Solid Rock, We Stand
“He alone is my Rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken” (Psalm 62:6).
Battling Anxiety: A Christian Perspective
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad” (Proverbs 12:25).
Let the Peace of Christ Rule
“Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one Body, you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).
Surrounded by The Father
“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).
God Uses Imperfect People in Extraordinary Ways
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
Turning Your Mess into a Message
“Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me” (Psalm 66:16).
Encouragement and Prayer for New Graduates
Graduation is such an exciting moment! While it’s the end of a significant chapter, it’s the beginning of many new ones forward! Taking time to celebrate this milestone is important. While there may be some uncertainty about next steps, God’s Word provides direction for the road ahead. God cares about the details of every life and wants to lead each graduate to their purpose in Christ. When we seek His face and lean into Him, He promises to be with us in every step of the journey (Matthew 6:33).