Joy
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice.”
Philippians 4:4
Joy does not rest in the reality of life’s circumstances. Joy rests in something (someone) deeper. Christian joy flows from knowing that God is with us, for us, and still at work within us.
Paul wrote Philippians from prison. Chains were on his wrists, the future was uncertain, and yet joy overflowed from his heart. That alone tells us where true joy comes from. It does not grow from comfort. It grows from Christ.
Joy is not the denial of pain. It is the defiance of despair. The Spirit does not pretend hardship is small. He reminds us that suffering is never the final chapter when God is the Author. He helps us experience hope through hardship.
In daily life, joy becomes a quiet strength. It steadies us when plans unravel. It lifts our eyes when disappointment settles in. It allows us to serve freely without demanding perfect conditions.
Joy also becomes a powerful witness. A joyful believer does not claim everything is easy. Joy simply declares that God is always faithful, always near, and always working for His glory and our good.
Joy is rooted not in circumstances but in Christ’s unchanging presence.
Rejoicing in Hardships
Joni Eareckson Tada highlights the powerful example of Andy Bush, a young man with cerebral palsy who evangelizes through his unwavering joy and refusal to complain, demonstrating how people with disabilities can shine as influential witnesses for Christ in a broken world.
