#beJOYful

Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Philippians 4:4

Be Joyful

We all want to live a life full of joy, right? How can we be joyful amid heartbreak, suffering, and disappointment? How are we to be full of joy always as Paul instructs us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16?To answer this, let’s first take a step back and define what joy is. 

When Paul tells us to be full of joy, he is not talking about a superficial kind of happiness. Paul means something deeper, a trusting hope rooted in Christ. Joy is more than a feeling. Joy is an attitude of the heart and spirit shaped by contentment and confidence in Jesus. In the New Living Translation (NLT), 1 Thessalonians 5:16 says, “Always be joyful.” This counsel from Paul is an encouragement to let our faith, not our feelings, dictate our joy. When Paul tells us to rejoice always, he is asking us to choose to respond to external circumstances with inner peace and confidence because we know God is in control – no matter what life looks like at the moment. 

Here are three keys to help us make this seemingly impossible goal to “always be joyful” possible. First, we make God the boss of our life. When we follow His leading, He produces joy in us. Second, be connected with others. Following Christ includes belonging to a global family. God wants us to be a vessel through which His joy flows into the people around us. Finally, be who God has called you to be. There is a unique, special way that God designed each of us to spread contagious joy. 

Joy is not elusive, and a joyful life is sustainable. If we want to be joyful, we need to stay in communication with God, our boss, and our creator. Then, follow His instructions, connect with the people He has strategically placed in our lives and allow Him to transform us more and more into the masterpiece He designed us to be. 

Here’s a truth to treasure: You can choose to live joyfully, whether you’re in a terrific season or a terribly painful one. Begin by following Jesus, connecting with others, and being who God called you to be. We cannot wait for everything in life to be perfect to begin living a joy-filled life. Being joyful is a journey, not a destination. Start the journey to living a joy-filled life today. Start with Jesus. 

Prayer: Dear God, thank You that my joy is not dependent on any person or circumstance. Help me begin to see life as You truly intended it—full of abounding joy! I want to live joyfully. 

Reflect: How do you define joy? What small steps can you take to find joy today?

Scripture: John 15:1-12

Be Joyful Following Jesus

The journey to a joy-filled life begins with Jesus. In John 15, near the time of His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus was huddled up with His disciples. He told them (and us) that His followers would experience adversities and hardships. It was important they remain in Him, keep His commands, and love one another. Then He said, “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” (John 15:11 NLT). Jesus wanted His joy to be our joy! He desires to fill us with joy that overflows. 

The key to being filled with Jesus’ joy, a joy that circumstances cannot steal from us, is clinging to and following Jesus. Following Jesus means thinking His thoughts, loving what He loves, and having the same desire that He had: to glorify God. We need to follow His example in our daily living, and let Him be our guide in all that we do. We are to be to Jesus like a branch is to a vine (John 15:5). We are to stay close to Him, rest in Him, and draw our strength from Him. This is how we tap into the joy supply Christ has secured for us. 

Here’s a truth to treasure: The way of Jesus is the way of joy. Joy is the capstone of a vital interrelationship with Jesus. Joy is a gift from Him to our hearts. Jesus wants to fill us with the fullness of joy that is grounded solely in Him rather than the ever-changing circumstances around us. Jesus does not want us to live bleak, melancholic, and miserable lives. He wants us to have an abundant life complete with His great joy. When we follow Jesus’s example, we have the promise of overflowing joy. 

Prayer: Dear God, in every season of life I want to stay close to you and know true joy. Will You help me to follow your example daily? Help me to follow your example by obeying your commands and loving other people. I want to abide in You and have Your joy fill me. 

Reflect: What does it mean to you to follow Jesus, to let Jesus be your guide? How can you draw closer to Jesus today and tap into His joy supply?

Scriptures: 2 Timothy 1:2-4, 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

Be Joyful Connecting with Others

For many of us, the pandemic has reminded us of the importance of community. We’ve discovered different ways to keep our physical distance while remaining socially close. Why? Because humans are social beings. The need to belong is deeply ingrained in our nature. Pandemic or not, as humans we need to connect with friends and family to navigate life. 

Similarly, although the apostle Paul was physically distanced from his friends because of his imprisonment, he remained socially connected through his letters. In several scriptures, Paul expresses a kind of joy he found in Christ that he would not have otherwise enjoyed without the personal connections he had with people. He expressed the joy that came from witnessing people develop their faith and Christlike character. 

When we develop relationships with others we receive and give joy as we help each other grow in the Lord. We need relationships to grow. We don’t grow in isolation from others. In a healthy community, we experience God’s joy as we share our stories, enjoy one another, encourage one another, and together make a difference for God’s glory. 

Perhaps you’ve been hurt by people who were supposed to be your community, your crew, your squad. However, the memories of awkward moments, strained interactions, repeated offenses, and perhaps harsh words make you hesitant to try to form new relationships. I understand the desire to refuse to trust again and be on an island all on your own. However, I also understand that our health and joy are inextricably linked to our connections with others. After the hurt or disappointment, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can heal and embrace new opportunities for building community. Trust God to lead you to the right people and be ready to do the work necessary to cultivate healthy relationships. 

Here’s a truth to treasure: We need one another. We are created for community. Whether introvert or extravert, we need to be connected to people. Belonging to a Christian community will be one of the greatest blessings and sources of encouragement in life. We should pursue the deeper, more meaningful joys of being in community. 

Prayer: Dear God, Thank You for the gifts of friendship and community. Show me opportunities to encourage others and build healthy relationships with other Christians. 

Reflect: What are some ways you can be intentional about creating community with other Christians? How can you help other Christians grow?

Scriptures: Psalms 139:13-18, Galatians 6:4-6

Be Joyful Being Who God Made You

My sister and I are about the same size. We can share any shoe, shirt, pair of pants, or dress in our closets except an “aso ebi” outfit. An “aso ebi” is a uniform outfit that is traditionally worn during Nigerian special occasions as an indicator that you are a family member or close friend of the celebrant(s). Every “aso ebi” outfit is tailor-made. My sister’s “aso ebi” outfits are tailored to her exact specifications to fit her curves, not mine. There have been times when I’ve tried to wear one of her “aso ebis” only to be disappointed when I looked in the mirror and saw that it didn’t look nearly as fabulous on me as it did on her. Similarly, each of us has a tailor-made purpose designed by God. He has intentionally knitted together our spiritual gifts, interests, ambitions, dreams, abilities, personalities, and experiences to equip us for a unique purpose. When we compare our purpose to someone else’s, we can become disappointed when we try to do what they do only to realize we weren’t made to do what they do! 

Comparison can be a destructive and dangerous thing. One of two things can happen when we compare ourselves to other people: 1) we find someone who seems to be doing better and become envious or 2) we find someone who is doing worse and become prideful. Whether we feel a sense of inferiority or superiority, either feeling will rob us of joy. 

Comparison also prevents us from embracing who God created us to be. It is a tool the devil uses to keep us from stepping into our God-given destinies. It lures us into wasting our time and energy trying to fulfill someone else’s purpose rather than our own. Comparison opens the door for lies to deflate our confidence, diminish our courage, and deplete our contentment. If we are not careful, comparison can compromise the individual calling and beautiful life God has given each of us. 

Here’s a truth to treasure: To live a life full of joy, we must fight back against the comparison trap each and every day. We can fight back with the truth. The truth is we were created by an incredible, awe-inspiring Creator who designed us on purpose for His purpose. We are one-of-a-kind. We fight back by valuing our uniqueness. There is something special about you; discover it and own it. 

We only have one life. Let us not waste it away because we allowed comparison to take us down a path that was not designed for us. Let us experience joy by being who God made us to be. 

Prayer: Dear God, You are the Great Creator. I am grateful for the unique gifts and talents you have given me. Thank You that there is no one else just like me. Help me live as the one You uniquely intended me to be. 

Reflect: What is unique about you? How can you use your uniqueness to spread contagious joy?

Scripture: Romans 5:1-5

Be Joyful When Life is Difficult

I enjoy baking cakes. One thing I’ve learned while experimenting with different recipes is that there are a few basic ingredients that can’t be easily changed or substituted if you’re going to achieve the perfect cake. For example, all cakes need a liquid whether it’s milk or water. The liquid is essential because it helps bind the dry ingredients together and contributes to the formation of the basic structure. In life, difficulties are an essential ingredient because they contribute to the formation of our Christ-like character. 

When we encounter difficulties, we tend to want God to immediately make everything better. But through His word, God holds us and tells us, “Don’t give up. Grow up.” The Bible, especially the Psalms, is full of notes from God to us encouraging us to persevere. God desires for us to embrace His grace and strength instead of running away or looking for the easy way out. 

In Romans 5:3, Paul tells us to rejoice when we run into problems and trials because we know that they help us develop endurance, character, and hope. Notice the word “know.” That is the game-changer. Paul knows the key to rejoicing during difficulties is what we know about God. 

We know that God loves us. We know He is with us always. We also know that He is faithful and more than able to bring good out of bad. When life is difficult, we can have joyful confidence because we can trust God to be at work in our struggles. God can use trials as instruments of training to prepare us for what is ahead of us. Our troubles are not catastrophes but rather catalysts God uses to develop our endurance, character, and hope. 

Here’s a truth to treasure: A life of joy is found in keeping company with Jesus, not a life void of difficulty. We can be joyful, even when life is difficult because we know God loves us. And because He loves us He gives us indescribable joy, calming comfort, and overflowing peace in the midst of difficulties. 

Prayer: Dear God, Thank You for being with me in my trials, and for helping me to grow through them. Often, I feel anything but joy in the middle of trials. Open my eyes to help me see these hard times as tools to strengthen me and bring me to a new level of maturity. 

Reflect: What are some things you’ve learned about God and yourself while you were going through a time of trouble? How have those lessons helped you grow spiritually?

Scripture: James 1:1-4

Recognizing Opportunities to Be Joyful

Several years ago, I was in Chicago for work and planned to meet up with a friend from college. She called to tell me she would be at my hotel in 10 minutes. I sat on my bed and waited for her. In less than 10 minutes, I fell asleep…deep asleep. My friend texted, called, and knocked on my door. I didn’t hear a thing. I felt awful. Not only did I waste her time, but I missed an opportunity to see one of my college besties. 

Have you ever missed an opportunity? It might have been a job opportunity, an opportunity to convey to another person your feelings for him/her, a chance to get a discount on a product you want to purchase, or an opportunity to see your favorite artist in concert. For many of us, a common missed opportunity is the opportunity to experience joy when we go through a trial. 

I love the way the New Living Translation translates James 1:2 – “when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” It resonates with me because opportunities are usually seen as being positive. And while the trouble itself may not be positive, there is a positive opportunity that comes out of it. Our trials are opportunities for great joy because they are opportunities for God to grow and mature us in our faith. Our trials, though incredibly confusing and painful, provide an opportunity for our faith to grow and for God to reveal Himself in a new way. When James tells us to “consider’, he’s asking us to shift our perspective and recognize the spiritual blessings that come from the trial; we can draw comfort from God’s hand in it. 

Here’s a truth to treasure: To recognize opportunities for joy we have to modify our mindset. Every day God gives us fresh opportunities to experience His joy. We need to shift our perspective to who God is, what He has done, and what He is doing and will do. Unless we shift our perspective, we will not notice and appreciate opportunities for joy. Let’s get our shift together and recognize opportunities for joy. 

Prayer: Dear God, I do not like trials, troubles, suffering, or pain; but I understand they are part of life. Help me to shift my perspective so I can recognize the joy opportunities present in my trial. I do not want to miss any opportunities to be filled with the joy you give freely. 

Reflect: When has a specific struggle proven to be an opportunity for spiritual maturity? How can you begin to shift your perspective today?

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:16-19

Choose Joy

Every day, we have the opportunity to make thousands of choices from what we wear to what we eat to when and how we work. One choice we must intentionally make every day is to choose joy. 

Choosing joy is not about faking happiness. Choosing joy does not mean we have to choose to walk around with a fake smile on our face all the time, ignore reality, or suppress emotions such as sadness and anxiety. When we have a painful experience, we are allowed to feel a range of emotions. However, we should not be stuck in despair. Choosing joy is keeping in perspective that God can convert pain into purpose. 

The prophet Habakkuk was going through tough times. Extreme poverty was coming. God had shown him the coming days when none of the crops or livestock—on which God’s people depended—would be fruitful. When you read Habakkuk 3, you realize Habakkuk acknowledges the pain, disappointment, frustration, and fear of what was coming. He is still determined to “rejoice in God.” 

His focus was on God’s character and power rather than the circumstances. He could have joy because he was deeply anchored in the faithfulness of God. He chose joy in God because he knew that the God of his salvation would be faithful to see him through the worst. Even in a horrible bad-to-worse situation, he persisted in focusing on the bigness of God rather than the bigness of the problem. 

Here’s a truth to treasure: We can have joy when we place our confidence and faith in the greatness, goodness, and faithfulness of God. How can we have joy in those moments when everything feels like it is falling apart? We can find joy in the trustworthiness of God’s promises. He has promised to be with us, strengthen us, care for us, and to answer our prayers. Whatever our ‘even though,’ bad to a worse situation—sickness, family crisis, financial trouble— we can rejoice as we put our hope in the God who is faithful. 

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you that You are my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. When I am faced with difficulties, I will put my trust in You and cling tightly to your promise to work all things for good. When my world is turned upside down, I choose joy because I know You, and I know You are good, faithful, and trustworthy. 

Reflect: How can you “rejoice in the Lord” during such times? What are some of God’s promises from the Bible that can help you remember to trust God?