Joy is more a state of blessing than an emotion! (Luke 2:10; John 16:22)
Joy is based on a relationship with Jesus! (Luke 2:10; John 15:9-11)
I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! (John 15:9-11)
Joy is placed into our lives through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit! (Luke 2:10; Galatians 4:4-7; Galatians 5:22)
But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” (Galatians 4:4-6 NLT)
Joy and suffering can coexist together! (John 16:20-21)
Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. (John 16:20-21)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
How we see ourselves affects how we think about joy! (Luke 2:9-10)
Joy can always be restored in our lives. (Luke 2:10; Luke 16:22; Psalm 51:7-11)
When you long for joy in the world but nothing fulfills it, you realize you were created for more than this world. (Tim Keller)