Perspective ShiftSample

What Steals Your Joy?

A businessman was once rushing to a meeting. Anxious and angry, he seemed to find every red light, detour, and delay in the city. Then, when he finally reached his destination, he realized he didn’t have the keys to enter the building! But in the midst of his frustration, he remembered Jesus’ promise in today’s guiding verse—no one can steal our joy!

In today’s verse, we see Jesus speaking with His disciples, preparing them for His death on the cross. While they didn’t understand what He meant in the moment, they did after His resurrection. For God’s people, sorrow can give way to true joy because it isn't dependent on circumstances or convenience. Joy is a fruit from the Holy Spirit—in both the big and little situations of life.

Real joy is rooted in Jesus Himself and is nurtured by the Holy Spirit. When we understand this, we see that our joy can remain untouched, regardless of external factors. The businessman’s frustrating rush to a meeting is relatable and humorous, but what if that joy persisted in your life no matter how serious the situations you face?

Joy in a concerning diagnosis…

Joy amidst heartbreaking news from a friend…

Joy through a layoff that causes financial hardship…

You can have real, profound joy through it all. People around you will wonder, “How could you possibly face such a difficult situation with such joy?” You can answer with confidence: “Because Jesus said nothing can steal the joy that comes from knowing Him—not even this!”

As you engage with God’s word:

● What is God saying to you?

● What does it mean to you?

● What action step do you need to take?

After you reflect on these questions, bring everything to God in prayer. Also, if you’re looking for more faith-building resources like this, I want to personally invite you to sign up for my weekly devotional email today!