Finding Joy In Difficult Times

What Does the Bible Say About Finding Joy In Difficult Times?

For one, joy is commanded all over the Bible. It was commanded of God’s first-covenant people, Israel, perhaps especially in the Psalms.

“Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!” (Psalm 149:2).

“Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad” (Psalm 14:7).

“Rejoice in the Lord” (Psalm 97:12).

“Serve the Lord with gladness” (Psalm 100:2).

“Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” (Psalm 32:11).

With literally hundreds more instances throughout the Old Testament.

In the New Testament, God himself, in full manhood, doesn’t change his tune once he’s become the “man of sorrows” in our fallen world (Isaiah 53:3), but commands our joy as much as anyone, and gives us even more reason to rejoice.

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Matthew 5:12). “Leap for joy” (Luke 6:23).

“Rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

Yes, joy is possible, joy so real and rich that we turn to friends and neighbors and say, “Rejoice with me” (Luke 15:6, 9).

If it weren’t plain enough at this point, the apostle Paul drives it home further in his letters to the churches.

“Rejoice in hope. . . . Rejoice with those who rejoice” (Romans 12:12, 15).

“Finally, brothers, rejoice” (2 Corinthians 13:11).

“Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). And then, the joy tidal wave of Philippians:

“Be glad and rejoice with me” (Philippians 2:18).

“Rejoice in the Lord” (Philippians 3:1).

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

Not that we’re dull to the multifaceted pains of life in this age, but in Christ we have access to subterranean joy that is simultaneous with, and deeper than, the greatest of our sorrows — we are “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10).