Not as a façade, not a pretension, nor a “Sunday smile” mask I wear, it’s real. Let me tell you why. As I hear people begin their countdown to Christmas, and indeed it is near, I wonder if it still matter to many – if it still brings joy. Would carolers sing “Joy to the world” with real joy flooding their hearts? Is joy supposed to be once a year experience? With all the different things going on in the world today (mostly bad news), can people experience true joy? And the answer is Yes!

…Our joy increases in direct proportion to our intimacy with Christ…

Joy—it makes people wonder at your secret. Yet joy is no secret to the trusting Christian. When we choose to grow closer to God, resting in His character and provision, joy spills over into our lives so that others can’t help but notice. Do you want to be a person of joy? Silly question, isn’t it? We would love to live above our circumstances. Or have a great attitude. Or laugh a lot. But joy goes beyond all these things. Let’s learn from God’s Word the lovely facets of joy:

1. Joy is the fruit of God’s Spirit. More than a great attitude or an unconquerable spirit, joy comes from God (Galatians 5:22Galatians 5:22
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  

WP-Bible plugin). Our joy increases in direct proportion to our intimacy with Christ. And when sin keeps us from that relationship, it also robs us of our joy (Psalm 51:8, 12Psalm 51:8, 12
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. ¹² Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.  

WP-Bible plugin).

2. Joy doesn’t depend on circumstances. Paul wrote Philippians—often called “the book of joy”—from a jail cell. He was criticized, tired, and misunderstood. But instead of allowing his horrible circumstances to choke out God’s Word and God’s Spirit (as Mark 4:19Mark 4:19
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. lusts: or, inordinate desires  

WP-Bible plugin describes they often can), Paul chose to concentrate on the joy of knowing Christ (Philippians 2:17Philippians 2:17
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. offered: Gr. poured forth  

WP-Bible plugin). Next time you read Philippians, picture Paul’s jail cell . . . and his face.

3. Joy is a choice. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” (James 1:2James 1:2
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; temptation: or, trials  

WP-Bible plugin). Here’s the reality—read it carefully. Life’s painful trials are not joyous in themselves, but when we walk through them, we should be filled with joy. Why? Because of the good God is developing in us and in the situation. We can know real joy while in the scariest storm when we fill our minds and hearts with truth about God.

Joy becomes a transaction between you and God that others can’t help but notice. It’s God’s life spilling over the brim of your life and into others’ lives. When you trust Christ with the details of your life, you experience His life in wonderful excess, and it can’t help but give you reason to smile.