When I think of joy, I am reminded of a song that I used to sing years ago in a church that I attended. It goes something like this:

The joy of the Lord is my strength. The joy of the Lord is my strength. The joy of the Lord is my strength. The joy of the Lord is my strength.

He gives me living water and I thirst no more. He gives me living water and I thirst no more. He gives me living water and I thirst no more. The joy of the Lord is my strength.

The Word of God is filled with scriptures about joy, and below are some that I have chosen to share with you. All of them are taken from the NIV translation.

James 1:2-3: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”

Psalm 47:1: “Clap your hands all you nations, shout to God with cries of joy.”

Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Psalm 30:5: “For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may remain for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”

Hebrews 12:2: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Isaiah 35:10: “…and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing, everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and singing will flee away.”

We have so many blessings in our lives. Let us remember to be joyful even when we face trials because it is during that time that “the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”

Blessings on you,
Yvonne