A Rare Treasure: Discover True Christian Joy

Jesus is my savior.

That statement defines my life and every action I take, but I’ll be completely honest: It doesn’t always fill me with pure joy. More times than I care to admit, I could describe myself as mildly grateful for God’s love—but certainly not jubilant or enraptured or ecstatic or [put your favorite synonym for “bursting with joy” here]. What can I say? Life has a way of stealing joy. 

That’s not how it’s supposed to be. Yes, sometimes you have to work against your feelings. You show love to your brother even when you don’t feel loving. You worship God even when you’re down.

But you shouldn’t settle for a lack of feeling.

Let’s discover true Christian joy—what it is, where it’s found, and how it will change your life.

Seek God, Find Joy.

“I seek you with all my heart. I have hidden your word in my heart. Praise be to you, Lord. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts. I delight in your decrees.”

Psalm 119:10-16, in part

Look at those words again. Can you imagine rejoicing in following God’s commands as much as you would if you discovered a trunk of gold coins amounting to millions of dollars? Wanting to abide by his directives instead of viewing them as drudgery?

Is that really possible?

True Christian joy goes deeper than simply believing in Jesus with a blasé attitude. It means truly taking to heart how much God loves you and letting that fill you up until you overflow with a gladness that cannot be taken from you. Suddenly, your earthly circumstances have little bearing over your mood. Other people’s opinions cease to dictate your worth. You find yourself singing even with dreary weather and a shoe full of slush.

And you want to follow the rules because they give you a chance to show your love in return. (Read What is God’s Love Language?)

This is true Christian joy, and greater bliss can be found nowhere else. This isn’t just true for Christians. Non-believers have no equivalent.

That’s nice, but…how do you discover true Christian joy?

What is the secret to finding this amazing, filled-to-the-brim joy? And once you do, how do you keep it?

On your own, you can’t. That’s the first thing you must understand in order to take pleasure in God. You can create happiness over an amazing dessert or a romantic pursuit, but true joy in the Lord comes only from the Holy Spirit:

• But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace… -Galatians 5:22
• You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. -1 Thessalonians 1:6
• You did not choose me, but I chose you… -John 15:16

Before you get all down over how you have no control over it, stop right now and think about this! God is not waiting for you to generate this magnificent feeling all on your own. You don’t have to conjure up a sensation or go through any funky rituals to make it happen. He brings it to you.

Al you have to do is pursue him.

Seek God, and He Shall Be Found.

The pursuit of God is not some sick hide-and-seek game he likes to play with helpless earthlings. God promises if you go looking for him in earnest, you will find him:

• You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. -Jeremiah 29:13
• …anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. -Hebrews 11:6
• If you seek him, he will be found by you… -1 Chronicles 28:9 and 2 Chronicles 15:2

No need to look under the bed like a child clearing out monsters before bedtime. And you don’t have to climb Everest to find him. You don’t even have to take a trip to the Holy Land. He’s right there on your nightstand or shoved into your overcrowded bookshelf in a book know as The Book: your Bible.

If you want to find God, you have to open your Bible! Meditate on his words, pursue him in persistant prayer, and God will make himself known to you. (See: How to Be More Aware of Jesus’ Presence.)

This is the first step toward discovering true joy. It won’t happen overnight, but the more time you spend with him, the more you’ll find your heart turning toward delight in your Lord.

Related: Seek the Lord and He Will Be Found By You

Pursue Relentlessly

“Come, all you who are thirsty. Listen, listen to me, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me. Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, so is my word: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire.

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.”

from Isaiah 55

The legendary pirates of yore didn’t spend one day looking for a chest of treasure only to give up when they couldn’t find it. They searched, they pursued, they fought and conquered and searched some more until they found what they were looking for. And they delighted in it when they found it. 

The legendary pirates didn’t spend one day looking for a chest of treasure only to give up when they couldn’t find it.

It’s time to tap into your inner pirate. Because what you’re looking for is worth so much more and offers so much more in the way of true joy.

Like the psalmist, you will rejoice in your Lord as one rejoices in great riches, and even more so. Seek and pray and don’t give up! God wants you to hold him to his promises, and he doesn’t want you to limp by on mediocre faith.

Seek God, find true joy, and take pleasure in Christ!

More on the Pursuit of True Christian Joy

• Find Lasting Joy, Right from the Source
• Desiring God As The Ultimate Source of Pleasure
• Joyless Christianity Is Dangerous (from DesiringGod.org)