What is joy?

Psalm 5:11Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy.

Psalm 16:11You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Psalm 33:12What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen for his own.

Psalm 68:3Let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy.

Psalm 144:15Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord.

Proverbs 16:20Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful.

Romans 5:1-2Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

Romans 5:11So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Galatians 5:22-23The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Joy is the celebration of walking with God. It is an inner happiness that lasts despite the circumstances around us because it is based on a relationship with Jesus Christ. We have peace with God, and we realize how privileged we are to know Jesus as Savior, to have our sins forgiven, to be friends with God Almighty, and to be certain we will live forever with him. Joy is one of the important qualities we experience when we allow the Holy Spirit to control our lives.

Isaiah 51:11Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.

2 Corinthians 8:2They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

1 Peter 1:8You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

1 John 1:4We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.

Real joy is everlasting, full, abundant, glorious, and inexpressible.