1 John 1:4-“ We write this to make our joy complete.”

As I’ve been reading and studying the Bible over the past few years, a simple truth keeps coming up: The follower of Jesus should be marked by joy. Joy is more than happiness and pleasure. It is more than optimism and cheerfulness. It is more than these because joy is not dependent upon our circumstances. True joy wells up from within and is a fruit of the Spirit. Martin Lloyd Jones said, “Joy is something very deep and profound, something that affects the whole and entire personality… it comes to this; there is only one thing that can give true joy, and that is a contemplation of the Lord Jesus Christ. He satisfies my mind; He satisfies my emotions; He satisfies my every desire. He and His great salvation include the whole personality and nothing less, and in Him I am complete. Joy, in other words, is the response and the reaction of the should to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Joy is also “I’m glad to be with you.” Dr. Jim Wilder is a neurotheologian who has written extensively about joy. When we are able to return to joy from negative emotions, we can live the life that Jesus intended in a more complete way. Learning this aspect of joy takes time, practice, and a community of faith that is committed to joy. If you’d like to know more about how joy changes everything, check out this article from Dr. Wilder. 

I have no idea who the girl in the picture is, but her smile tells you that she is glad to be with you. Photo by Gabriel Silvério on Unsplash