Joy in and with God

Close your eyes and imagine Jesus seeing you as you walk into His party. What is the expression on the face of Jesus when he looks at you? Whatever expression you thought of has a profound impact on what you believe about God, the Bible, yourself, and your behavior. 

“Joy is most fundamentally experienced and expressed nonverbally through relational presence—especially through the face.” - Jim Wilder

Joy Comes from God’s Face – God is glad to be with you (2 Cor. 3:18–4:6, Ps. 16:11). Joy grows as we stay close to Jesus (John 15, Gal. 5:22). Joy helps us regulate our emotions and endure suffering. Joy does not remove our pain but gives us the strength to endure. If Joy is relational, “Joy in suffering” means that God and our community are glad to be with us in our distress. We don’t suffer alone. 

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬: “There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!” You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.”