#beJOYfulSample

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?