True Joy Is Found in Jesus

True joy can only come from the Lord. Most of us think we are experiencing joy, but often it is only happiness. Happiness depends on what is happening around us. A good day, a paycheck, a vacation. When those things change, the feeling fades.

We do have moments of real joy, and those are a wonderful gift. But we will never know full, lasting joy until we come to the Lord. Jesus came to bring us into a relationship with Him. He died for our sins and rose again so we could be made right with God.

Jesus spoke about this joy the night before He went to the cross. He was teaching His disciples to stay connected to Him, like branches to a vine. The Greek word He used for joy is chara. It means a deep gladness that comes from God, not from our circumstances.

That joy doesn’t come from holding on tighter to the things of this world. It comes from letting go of what gets in the way and truly relying on Jesus. When we do, His joy becomes our joy, and nothing around us can take it away.

Every bit of creation points back to its Maker. This one points to John 15:11:

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

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Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.