It is never written in Scripture, “Thou shalt have a sour life.” Neither is it written that all our days will be favorable and turn out how we want it. But what is written is that we can still rejoice (Philippians 4:4).

Repeatedly the Bible tells the story of joy.

Yes, I know we see the battles and the ups and downs of the human heart and life, but the Word expresses the presence of joy from its beginning to its end.

But most miss out on it because joy for them is not found where they are looking.

For the saint, joy is not a passing fling of emotion nor is it contingent upon circumstances where most identify their source of joy.

It’s a holy takeover on the inside that overrides the human viewpoint, logic, or feelings. It’s something beautiful, an almost unexplainable feeling on the inside because of this holy connection with the Father.

How else could the apostles rejoice at being beaten for the Lord (Acts 5:41)? How else could psalms be written that see by faith the joy ahead though one is enduring the weeping of night (Psalm 30:5)? How is it that Habakkuk writes of failures and things not working out as one had hoped for (3:17), and yet, still declare, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (3:18)?

Because at the center of all these lives, as Habakkuk so eloquently put it, God is the reason for their joy. Not what is or what is not working out in their lives.

So much so, the psalmist, in the middle of his lament for vindication and troubles, still recognizes God as his “exceeding joy” (Psalm 43:4), refocusing his heart even in the middle of hurt.

David also, receiving forgiveness and restoration after the confession of his sin with Bathsheba, wrote the command, “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart” (Psalm 32:11).

Are you struggling to find joy today? Psalms encourages us, “Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee…” (70:4).

Where are you looking for joy?

Real joy, regardless of circumstance, can only be found where those in Scripture found their joy: in God alone through our Lord Jesus Christ, who Himself looked past the pain of the cross (Hebrews 12:2), found joy in God the Father and His plan of salvation that would be for the redeeming of those who would turn to Him.

We find our joy in the presence and person of God in our lives. For as the holy Scriptures say, “Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:15).

Text Free Image by Arnie Bragg from Pixabay