Remember that song, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy down in my heart”? If you just said, “Where,” and responded, “Down in my heart,” then you’re going to have this song stuck in your head today. I truly hope you do too. Joy is something God gives us that’s based on what He’s done for you and not what you’re going through. Circumstances steal happiness, but they can’t touch joy. The Bible says that we will be led with joy and that the joy of the Lord is our strength (you’ll be singing this one too!). Joy is what helps us endure whatever comes our way. Even in the hardest of times, we can ask God to give us joy so we can push through when our mind tells us we can’t.
While every one of us go through hard times at some point, others live hard lives where it seems to be one thing after the other. Joy helps us to keep our eyes on Jesus through it all knowing that He has a plan and that all those hard times are producing His qualities in our life. When we lose sight of that, it’s good to pray what David did in Psalm 51 even though his words were from repentance. Pray, “Lord, restore to me the joy of your salvation.” I’ve had to pray that prayer many times and God has always given me His joy so that I could have the strength to keep going. I believe that God will restore your joy too.
Here are some Bible verses on joy.
1. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
Psalms 51:12 NLT
2. You love him, although you have not seen him, and you believe in him, although you do not now see him. So you rejoice with a great and glorious joy which words cannot express, because you are receiving the salvation of your souls, which is the purpose of your faith in him.
1 Peter 1:8-9 GNT
3. So you’ll go out in joy, you’ll be led into a whole and complete life. The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song. All the trees of the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause. No more thistles, but giant sequoias, no more thorn bushes, but stately pines— Monuments to me, to GOD, living and lasting evidence of GOD.
Isaiah 55:12-13 MSG
4. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. For this day in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (the Messiah).
Luke 2:10-11 AMP
5. If you keep my commands, you will live in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands, for I continually live nourished and empowered by his love. My purpose for telling you these things is so that the joy that I experience will fill your hearts with overflowing gladness!
John 15:10-11 TPT
Photo by Preslie Hirsch on Unsplash
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 
“Circumstances steel happiness, but they can’t touch joy.”
Amen!
Siri used the word “steel,” but I meant “steal”-like you said. But both words work. My heart and mind can turn to steel (apathy, disillusionment) when happiness fades, but the Joy of the Lord softens everything!
Thank you for your blog ministry. I always find something useful to my walk with God when I read your posts! Blessings
Thank you for such great encouragement on a daily basis. I’m always seeking and praying for God to show me things in His Word and then to give me simple ways to express it that people can apply.