Joy is something we all desire. But what exactly is joy?

One dictionary says joy is an “emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires; joy is a state of happiness; the experience of great pleasure or delight.”

We tend to think of occasions that are “joyous” – celebratory milestones like the birth of a baby, a wedding, a graduation or landing a new job. To be sure, these and other events produce joy in our lives, and we can be truly thankful for them.

But there is a deeper joy still that does not depend on happy events.

This kind of joy is NOT the same as happiness, which depends on positive circumstances. The joy we all long for is an inner well of strength that calms the storms of our lives with a serenity that endures through the good and bad of life. It is a joy that often does not make sense, but is attainable, nonetheless.

We have a friend who beams with joy every time we see her. And it isn’t because everything has gone great in her life. Just the opposite. She has had many blessings, but she has also fought cancer three times. And she never lost her joy. Her first husband was killed in the Air Force, leaving her a single parent of three children. And she never lost her joy. Then her second husband died of cancer, leaving her with a total of seven children to care for. And she never lost her joy. Now in her 90’s, four of her seven children and one grandchild has died. And she has never lost her joy.

Did our friend grieve deeply? Absolutely. Did she experience fear, physical or emotional pain? To be sure. Was she perplexed by the multiple tragedies she experienced? Of course. She’s as human as the next person.

So, why is she still a joyful person who lights up any room she walks into?

The answer she would give is beautifully simple: she has deep faith in God. She speaks of the strength and grace God’s presence gave her to go through each hardship and of the joy that comes from a quiet confidence that He will work everything together for good. This is her source of indestructible joy.

Tim Keller said, “There is a joy available that the deepest grief cannot put out. No circumstance or person can take away the joy God gives.” He speaks of a joy that is a gift from God and is available to any of us who earnestly want it.

Pope John Paul II observed, “Joy is the infallible sign of God’s presence.” Sam Storms reminds us, “Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering; it is the presence of God.” The faithful will join our friend in saying this God-given joy is the secret to peace in a world filled with unbearable pain and suffering. 

So, joy isn’t just a sanguine personality trait reserved for the fortunate few, but something the Bible says God in His love wants to give each one of us. Joy is the quiet confidence that all will be well, no matter what. Our friend is a continual inspiration to Diana and me. She has shown us the joy we want to experience. 

Experiencing joy in happy times is easy. But deep joy stays with us when the good times disappear. As someone said, “If you carry joy in your heart, you can heal any moment.” May God give us that kind of joy.

 “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10

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This article is featured in the November 2024 edition of STROLL magazine.