One of my constant prayers is that I would be a joyful woman. And because it’s one of my constant prayers, it means that I am often not joyful.
Too often.
I let my joy get stolen…and shaken.
Here are some of my biggest Joy-Stealers:
- Other people
- Circumstances
- Fatigue
- My own sin (even when I don’t realize it!)
- Watching/Reading the news
- Social Media
- The culture
The problem with this list is that I am basing my happiness on things that are less than perfect…things tainted by sin.
And that’s always a recipe for having my joy stolen.
The remedy?
Turning to the one who is perfect in every way, who has forgiven my sin, and who never lets me down. Jesus.
And he has been teaching me about true joy as I have searched His Word for what really brings happiness. I have discovered a treasure trove of verses. So much so, that I had to create a “JOY” page for my prayer notebook.
Here are some of the truths about joy that I have discovered from God’s Word:
- It is rooted in my union with Jesus Christ (John 17:3, Romans 5:11, John 16:33)
- It is a result of obedience (Psalm 19:8, Psalm 97:11, Ecclesiastes 2:26, Psalm 119:1-2)
- It is not based on circumstances (Psalm 30:11-12)
- It is cultivated by daily communion with the Lord (Jeremiah 15:16, Psalm 104:34, Psalm 16:11)
- It comes from seeking the Lord with my whole heart (1 Peter 1:8-9, Psalm 70:4)
- It is my strength and hope (Nehemiah 8:10, Romans 15:13)
- It is restored through repentance (Psalm 51:12)
When my joy comes from the Lord rather than circumstances or other people, it is unshakeable. I just need constant reminding of where true joy comes from. If you’re anything like me, maybe you need reminding too. I created a Scripture Meditations printable for this very reason, and I hope it helps you turn your eyes on Jesus when you’re tempted to let your joy be stolen.
Even in the most difficult of circumstances, when we’re facing trials and suffering, there is the promise that our joy will be restored. David said, “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5).
What kinds of things steal your joy? What Scriptures or gracious reminders from our Lord have helped you keep your joy from being stolen?
