1. What is joy?
Joy is defined as the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires: DELIGHT: the expression or exhibition of such emotion: GAIETY: a state of happiness or felicity.

Joy is found 165 times in 155 verses. Happiness is defined as pretty much the same thing. It’s “a state of well-being; a pleasurable or satisfying experience.” A definition of the word rejoice, related to the word joy, is “to feel great delight; to be glad.” Depending on the translation, the Bible uses the words happy and happiness about 30 times, while joy and rejoice appear over 300 times. Today, we commonly hear Christians speak of a difference between joy and happiness and the teaching usually has the following points:
1) Happiness is a feeling, but joy is not.
2) Happiness is fleeting, but joy is everlasting.
3) Happiness depends on circumstances or other people, but joy is a gift from God.
4) Happiness is worldly, but joy is divine.


If a person is joyful, then they are happy. There’s no such thing as gloomy joy. When God’s Spirit gives us joy, then we are happy people. We should be joyful.

James 1:2 says, “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials that the testing of our faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (verses 3–4).

Christians can be happy, even in the midst of difficulties but that takes mature Christianity and unwavering joy. We may not be able to do that immediately when life hits, we should get to that point as soon as we are able. As soon as we can catch our breath. Because as we persevere through trials with God’s help, our faith strengthens and matures. By God’s grace we can be happy and joyful despite our circumstances.

Joy is often presented as true contentment based on faith. Happiness, however, is often thought of as superficial emotion dependent on circumstances. There is nothing in the Bible that suggests we separate joy from happiness. The two are equal.

Of course, there are different types of joy and happiness. There is a joy that comes from the world, such as “the fleeting pleasures of sin” spoken of in Hebrews 1:25. There is a joy that is part of the fruit of the Spirit that is found in Galatians 5:22. There is a temporary happiness and an eternal happiness, but we can call both “happiness.”

We just need to decide where our joy comes from. Are we happy in the Lord, or are we content with the happiness that comes from the world? That kind of happiness is here today and gone tomorrow!

The Greek word for joy is chara. Joy is the natural reaction to the work of God, whether promised or fulfilled. Joy expresses God’s kingdom—His influence on earth. The Holy Spirit can manifest joy in several different ways:

The joy of deliverance: When God sets someone free, rejoicing is in order.

The joy of salvation: Our greatest reason to be joyful is that God wants to save us and spend eternity with us. Nothing is better than this.

The joy of spiritual maturity: As the Holy Spirit works in us to bear more fruit, we become confident in God’s promises and rejoice in our walk with Him and with other believers.

The joy of God’s presence: The Holy Spirit draws us to God, in whose presence we can know true joy. Without the Holy Spirit, no one would seek God.

Possessing joy is a choice. We choose whether to value God’s presence, promises, and work in our lives. When we yield to the Holy Spirit, He opens our eyes to God’s grace around us and fills us with joy. Joy is not to be found in a fallen world; it is only fellowship with God that can make our joy complete.

2. Why is joy important?
When we think of someone being joyful, I have a picture of a person who smiles and laughs a lot. Being joyful and laughing go hand and hand. There are many studies on the impact of being joyful has on a person’s life and body. The National Institute of Health said, “Laughter is a normal and natural physiologic response to certain stimuli with widely acknowledged psychological benefits. However, current research is beginning to show that laughter may also have serious positive physiological effects for those who engage in it on a regular basis.”

A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it induces physical changes in your body.

Laughter can:
Stimulate many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

Long-term effects
Laughter isn't just a quick pick-me-up, though. It's also good for you over the long term. Laughter may:
Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. By contrast, positive thoughts can actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.
Relieve pain. Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.
Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people.
Improve your mood. Many people experience depression, sometimes due to chronic illnesses. Laughter can help lessen your stress, depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier. It can also improve your self-esteem.

You’ve likely heard that laughter is the best medicine. It’s true!

Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

There are spiritual, emotional, and physical benefits of joy and laughter. Science has proven why the Bible tells us to laugh, it’s good for our health! Laughter reduces stress, fights against depression and sorrow, fosters a positive outlook on life, and puts you in an all-around good mood. Laughter also lowers blood pressure, and impacts the cells in your body, preventing disease and setting you up to live long and strong.

If you don’t laugh enough, it will take a toll on your body. You must restore the joy in your life. That is your responsibility. Here are some scriptures to help jump start your joy!

Genesis 21:6: “And Sarah declared, ‘God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me.’”

Job 8:21: “He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.”

Psalm 30:11: “You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.”

Psalm 98:4: “Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!”

Psalm 126:2: “We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, ‘What amazing things the Lord has done for them.’”

Proverbs 31:25: “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”

Luke 1:14: “You will have great joy and gladness.”

Luke 2:10: “But the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.’”

John 15:11: “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”

Find something funny to laugh about today. Don’t wait for it to happen to you accidentally. Laugh on purpose and change the course of your life!

3. Joy is not an option!
Joy is essential to the Christian life. The Scriptures are clear, God’s people are both commanded to rejoice and be characterized by rejoicing. Joy is an integral part of our Christian life.

It’s not that there is only joy, but that in our most painful losses and sufferings, we discover how deep our reservoir of joy runs.

Joy Is Possible
If joy is essential, then it must mean joy is possible! In a world of sin and suffering, mess, and misery, it is good news to hear that joy is possible.
Joy is commanded all over the Bible. It was commanded of God’s first-covenant people, Israel. Psalm 149:2 “Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!” Psalm 14:7 “Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad”. Psalm 97:12 “Rejoice in the Lord”. Psalm 100:2 “Serve the Lord with gladness”. Psalm 32:11 “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”. With literally hundreds more instances throughout the Old Testament.

But I’m Not Joyful
Those of us who know ourselves, and are learning to be honest with reality, own up to how little we are truly joyful, and ask our Father again and again, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12).
To others, hearing that joy is not optional can make you feel condemned and feel as though it’s another weight to carry. But our joylessness is not the end of the story. One infinitely powerful piece remains in the equation.

God Is Committed to Your Joy
With our endless shortcomings, it is such good news that God himself is committed to our everlasting joy in him. Our joy will not be perfect in this life. We will always strain and struggle. We will have our angsts and anxieties. We will have our ups and downs. Yet even here we can sample the sweetness, especially in suffering.
1 Peter 1:8: “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.”
THIS…This is where your peace resides. Why is this important? Remember Pastor Tony said, “Joy is a direct result of your connection with peace.”

There have been 2 occasions where I had to purposefully dig into my faith to have peace. First, was with my son after having to have open heart surgery at the age of 6 to repair a hole between the top two chambers of his heart. He had an atrial septal defect. The second was with our daughter during her drug addicted years.

I started saying this over and over because my mama’s heart couldn’t mustard up any other prayers.
- Jesus, I believe in you. (I had to reassure myself of my faith.)
- Jesus, I love you. (I had to reinforce my commitment to him.)
- Jesus, I trust you. (I had to let myself let go of the circumstance beyond my control and trust him with it.)

It is good news that joy is not optional in the Christian life, because the final weight falls not on our weak backs, but on the almighty shoulders of God himself.

2 Corinthians 4:7-10 – 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

This describes you and me as broken clay jars who have God's radiant, joy-filled light shining through us. This verse about joy clearly states that God uses life's problems as proof that our joy through trials is a gift from God and not something we manufactured.

Sometimes life is hard, but we must learn where our joy comes from and understand that no matter what we face, He already knows. He knows the beginning from the end and end from the beginning. In this mature Christianity, we find that our joy has become unwavering.

In understanding joy and why it’s important, I want you to take a moment and think about the last time you truly were joyful. I want you to think about the last time you had a belly laugh so hard and long that you couldn’t breathe, and tears were rolling down your face. Are you having a hard time remembering? Well, it’s time to restore your joy! Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Take the scriptures from today and put your name in them. Begin to speak joy into your life. Begin to speak joy into your home. Begin to speak joy into your family and into your relationships. You have the power of life and death in your very mouth. Speak life and speak joy TODAY!

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?

How does he want you to respond?