True Joy and Peace

Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
[ 1 Peter 1:8-9 ]

What is joy?

While every single human being wants joy, few seem to have it.

So what are the right and wrong understandings of joy, and how can we get true joy? Furthermore, how can we know this joy while avoiding the counterfeits our flesh and the world’s wisdom have to offer?

While joy is a supremely desired feeling, most think of it as something that depends on having the right circumstances. There is some truth to that, but overall it is very misleading. To realize true joy, a key and helpful reality for us to know is this:

• Joy is not just a superlative feeling. Instead, it is a barometer for what is going on inside of you, and depends less on what is going on outside of you.

In other words, your attitudes, thoughts, beliefs, focus, and the treasures of your heart have far more to do with joy than your circumstances.

However, we often see it the other way around. Nevertheless, we can always have joy, even in the midst of pain and sorrow.

When we look inwardly—and follow God’s ways over our ways—our level of joy will increase. On the other hand, to the degree we fix our eyes on what is temporary and outside of us (e.g., our circumstances) the more our experience will go up and down.

And to the degree we live like that, we will likely lack joy, and perhaps experience anxiety and hopelessness as well.

> Download Free PDF | GLORIOUS JOY

 

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