Discover the Hidden Strength of Having Joy in All Circumstances

Posted on Jan 06, 2022 Topic : Inspirational/Devotional, Women's Christian Living
Posted by : Wynter Pitts

There is a common misconception about joy that it is solely dependent on our circumstances, but the Bible tells us that joy is a choice we can make in any situation because of our relationship with Christ. In fact, it is a fruit of the Spirit, growing in us as we grow stronger in our walk with Jesus. Share this powerful message with your daughter today and encourage her to grow the fruit of the Spirit in her life.

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I hope you know the fun song that starts like this: “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart… ” (Trust me! It’s a good thing you can’t hear me singing right now!) The upbeat tune and the hand motions do make this a fun song for everyone. But more important, the words are full of truth.

Joy, like love, is much more than something you feel when everything is going great. Joy is something you can have however hard life is at the moment when you remember that you are God’s chosen daughter. And, like love, joy grows in your heart because God lives in you. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit.

When I was little girl, I sang that joy-joy-joy song all the time. My family and I sang it in church, at home, and in the car. But it took me a long time to realize that even when things around me were sad and life was hard, I could still have the joy I was singing about.

A lot of sad things happened where I grew up. My neighborhood wasn’t very safe, and we didn’t have a lot of money. My mother, my brother, and I lived with my grandmother. I was grateful for a warm home to live in, but it wasn’t fancy. Even with these not-so-good circumstances, my grandmother always seemed to have the biggest smile on her face. Even when everyone knew things weren’t good, she remained joyful.

I didn’t understand how she could do that. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel miserable just because I have to do things I don’t want to do, like take a test or fold my laundry. So how did my grandmother manage to keep smiling in her difficult situation?

You know the answer. She relied on God to give her the strength she needed, and He gave her His joy. My grandmother was full of joy because of her relationship with God. The joy that God gives does not depend on anyone else’s actions or your circumstances. Joy comes from God living in us, and the joy is there regardless of what is happening around us. And the Bible tells us that God’s joy makes us strong.

Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10 NIV