Day 17:  About Joy

From Touching the Clouds: Encouraging Stories to Make Your Faith Soar

Words meaning “joy and delight” and “to rejoice” are used numerous times in both the Old and New Testaments. Jesus was a Man of Sorrows but also a Man of Joy. He told His followers, “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full” (John15: 11). God wants us to have joy—deep, abiding, radiant, and eternal joy that can be found only through a personal relationship with Him. “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15: 10).

Does joy mean we will never be unhappy of suffer? Not at all. The apostle Paul rejoiced in knowing Christ—not only the power of His resurrection, but also the fellowship of His sufferings (see Philippians 3: 10). Joy comes in knowing Jesus, who said, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John16: 33 NASB).