How fitting that I’m battling low seratonin levels as we start our week on joy. So I ask myself,

1. What does it mean to be joyful?
2. How do you remain joyful?
3. What are the causes of joy?

1 Thessalonians answers some of these questions. First of all, joy must not mean “happiness.” Paul says (1:6) “in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.” (Emphasis mine) He also tells us to “be joyful always,” despite previous admonitions to mourn with those who mourn. (Romans 12:115) So then, joy obviously does not mean happiness.

Moving forward, we see Paul closely align hope and glory with joy in 2:19-20, which leads me to presume that true joy is tied to an eternal perspective. It’s a sense of fulfillment and prupose, a combination of hope and faith that keeps us faithfully plodding along through the good times and the bad, as Christ did, “who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:2)

As a direct result of this premise, joy can be cultivated by merely serving God and obeying Him. We see this in Paul’s naming of the Thessalonians as his “joy” (2:20). The outcome of our service, the continual affirmation of our election & calling, the evidence of our place in God’s kindgom is certainly a great cause for joy. (By extension, hope & glory) For where can one feel more joyful/complete/hopeful than when he knows that he is fulfilling God’s purpose for him, that he is living out God’s Kingdom here on earth? Incidentally, the opposite of joy can be seen in those referred to in 4:13, who have “no hope.” They will lose eternally that which was the sole object of their lives: friendships, posessions, fame and fortune, and have nothing more to look forward to.

Our joy comes from the Holy Spirit, (1:6) for from where else do we receive our comfot, our encouragement, and our affirmation of eternity to come? From where else are we empowered to serve the LORD, to fulfill His commands, to hear and respond to His call?

If all of this is the case, it is no wonder I experience little joy at times. It is precisely when the Spirit of God has little effect on my life, when I’ve lost sight of the prize, and when I’ve let my life become all about this world that I lack joy the most. If I can’t see evidence of Him in me, how could I feel joy?