Deep Joy

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13

Are you happy? Are you really happy? So you answer “yes” to both. This reading is about joy. Do you know the difference between happiness and joy?If you did, you’d rather have joy than be happy; trust me.

Happiness is a transient state of being, centered around your circumstances and what is happening around you. Joy is deep, it is not affected by external circumstances it cannot be shaken easily. No matter what happens around you, you can still feel a deep sense of joy. Your day may not be going well but you can still have joy deep down. I remember growing up and singing a song in Sabbath school that said; " I have a joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart to stay". This is joy, it stays.

Believe it or not, material possessions cannot give you joy. What happens when you lose the house? Or the car? Or your dream job? Should you cease to have joy? No! Will you be unhappy? Perhaps. God can and will give you joy that transcends the material things. Many celebrities in today’s world are not happy. They may seem happy from what you see, you may think they should be happy - yet they are not. Sadly we hear of many suicides of the rich and famous. They have it all, you may think - yes, you’re correct but they don’t have joy. They have the money, multiple houses, multiple holidays and live without a care in the world but they still lack joy. This proves two things, two important lessons we must learn:

Lesson 1:

Having it all does not make you happy.

Lesson 2:

What you really need is joy; and that can only come from God.

How do you get that joy? Ask. It’s very simple. Just ask. Are you seeing a trend here in these devotionals? Anything you need from God, you can just ask Him. He’s also a God of absolutes. He will fill you completely then you will overflow with joy!

Think about it carefully. Have you ever had joy? Or has what you’ve been experiencing been solely based around circumstances? Then that’s only happiness. Don’t get me wrong, happiness is good and it all makes us feel great. If happiness gives us a great feeling, just imagine how fantastic and fulfilled we’d feel if we had deep joy. The Bible says that “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). With God’s strength, and the satisfaction He gives, you can face anything and any circumstance with a deep peace and joy.

Here’s what He says to you today:

"The storms of life may batter you every now and then but I want to offer you joy. Joy that is not easily shaken. I am your surety, when all else fails, you can find joy and strength in Me."

Pray this prayer today:

Jesus, I want deep joy - I am happy but I yearn for more. Too often my circumstances change I feel down and out. I want to be able to face my circumstances each day and still feel joy even though things may not always go my way. Thank you in advance.