Be Joyful Always | Short Sermon Series

The Christian people are to be a joyful people! This joy is not akin to the same idea of “happiness” that the secular world has, it is vastly different. Happiness is dependent on circumstance – we are happy to do well in school or work and happy when good things come our way. But joy is a state of being, a posture of the heart that remains steadfast even in the bad times.

When Paul exhorts us to be joyful, he is not talking about toxic positivity – to force ourselves to feel happy even when we are grieving, or life is getting us down. Our human emotions of sadness, frustration and grief are all real, authentic and should not be hidden away – the key thing is that being in a state of joy can exist with all these emotions! It is knowing, even in the midst of our messy human emotions, beyond everything we feel, there is a deep peace and assurance that God will take care of us. And this knowledge that we are so profoundly loved and cared for bubbles a deep joy that persists within us despite the trials we meet.

Let us hold on to and remember this joy as we go about our days today. The joy of the Lord will be our strength indeed!

Artwork by @moojigae_drawing !! 😍 Now available both in tote bags and posters! In stores and online!