Have you ever noticed how many times the words “joy, joyful, rejoice and rejoicing” appears in the Bible? It’s because the gospel is indeed “Good News.” The greatest gift ever given to mankind truly is “Joy To the World.”

            It’s no wonder we name our children “Joy” or “Joyce,” signifying the “joy” of birth.

            Joy is a fruit of the spirit. (Galatians 5:22) Happiness depends on circumstances, but joy rises up in the believer, even in adversity. James 1:2 gives instruction for being joyful, “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (RSV)

            It’s easy to rejoice when all is well. The real test comes in rejoicing in the hard places. I love Nehemiah’s statement in Nehemiah 8:10…”the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Another encouraging scripture is Psalm 30:5 ”weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

            Did you know the Lord even “joys” over you with singing? “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

Joy does not come from worry, fretting and stewing. The enemy of our souls would have us walk in defeat, depression, pessimism, discouragement, misery and woe. Who could have joy in the midst of that?

            Jesus came to give life and give it abundantly.  “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). That includes “joy” and all the other seven thousand nine hundred and ninety nine promises in God’s Word.

            Being joyful in every situation lowers blood pressure, cholesterol friction of every kind.. Joy reduces stress. Joy anticipates hope and optimism. Joy attracts others. It is contagious. Joy brings peace. Joy brings health, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (Proverbs 17:22).

            When the shadows of life threaten you, run to your strong tower and be under the shadow of the Almighty. The shadows cannot stay where there is joy.

            When the enemy shoots his arrows, God is your shield of faith and the arrows will miss you because you are joyful.

            Praise God in the beauty of the morning, in the noontide and in the twilight and joy will chase you. Jesus is the source of joy. He is “joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

He brings joy even when defeat seems certain.

            At 74 my mother had a heart block. A month later she developed a malignant obstruction in her abdomen. The surgery was a success and we joyfully had her for eleven more years of life.

            To have joy we must have hope while looking for the good in every situation.

We live one day at a time being joyful for just being alive. I believe being joyful improves health and longevity. So let’s go for it.

            To make your day, arise each morning and say, “This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

            Be joyful today. It renews everything, including you.

            “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

            Rejoice your way through life! You will be blessed and highly favored.

All it takes is to remember, for the believer, “the best is yet to be!”