Joy is another of the things that characterises a Christian. A true Christian should know how to experience and express joy; they should be joyful because of the love that they feel from God.
It is important to understand the distinction between joy and happiness. Often we understand these as having the same meaning, however, to the Christian, they must be different. Happiness refers to the feelings created by things that happen to us, while joy has to do with the covenant relationship between God and us. Joy is not an enthusiastic state that you have to work yourself into; it does not depend on circumstances or possessions. Joy is the indicator of our relationship with our heavenly Father.
In Psalm 16:11 David speaks of the reason for joy. "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Here David connects joy with eternal pleasures; he has joy because, through faith, he has taken hold of eternity. A believer has joy because he lives, not for the experience of happiness and pleasure in this life, but with a view to eternal life.
So how do we experience joy?
To restore joy in our earthly relationships we must do away with that which prevents joy: enmity, jealously, anger or resentment. Take those barriers away and restore that joy. It's not going to be easy. By nature we harbour hurt, jealousy and anger; however, we can also be comforted that the Lord Jesus provides us with everything that we need. He has restored our relationship with our heavenly Father and He can help us restore our relationships.
When a Christian shows true love, there will also flow joy. And when there is joy in life, true heavenly joy, then God's Holy Spirit is at work in you.
Isn't that wonderful? Doesn't that give you joy in itself?
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