Biblical Answer

The Source of Joy

Joy comes from God. He is the God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment (1 Tim. 6:17). As we learn to appreciate the beauty of creation and the church, we can find joy in the simple things in life. When we can't see it, we return to the cross and appreciate the beauty of what Jesus did. We learn to take joy in the Spirit working within us. God's splendor ascends over the sorrow of life, making joy possible. We can choose to become experts in joy, as it is not something shallow, but profound. We experience joy, but its power source and steering mechanism are beyond our reach.

Joy in Creation and People

We experience joy in creation, but it's not the most common place to look for it. Scripture assumes that we will find joy in creation, but it doesn't emphasize it. We also find joy in people, especially in their Christlikeness. If God says that creation is good and we can enjoy it, how much more can we enjoy people, the part of creation that he made in his image. We can share in the joy of others, creating a bond and a mutual understanding that are joys in themselves. This is the double delight of joy.

Joy as a Spiritual Experience

Joy is a spiritual experience, not just a physical or mental one. It's deeper and higher than pleasure. Joy arises from something unaffected by material things, while pleasure simply arises from physical or mental stimulation. We participate in God's joy when we learn to enjoy the things that God enjoys. True joy comes when we learn to take joy in the Spirit working within us. We must be willing to look for joy and welcome it, rather than feeling like we are betraying our depression by looking for it. Joy takes practice, and we can study it in the Psalms. Psalmists didn't even mention joy in their songs, but they did mention the things that brought them joy. We can learn to find joy in the simple things in life by appreciating the beauty of creation and the church, and by taking joy in the Spirit working within us.