The joy that is our heritage in Christ

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV)

We cultivate joy by putting our trust in God. Being trustworthy is part of who God is; it’s part of His character. Trust leads to hope, and hope leads to joy. And we increase our joy when we develop thankfulness and gratitude for whatever situation we find ourselves in.

Regardless of whether our circumstances are pleasant or unpleasant, we are to be thankful. This doesn’t mean that we need to be thankful for difficult circumstances, but rather that we give thanks in the midst of every circumstance, good or bad.

Scripture teaches us to thank the Lord that He is working in our present circumstance for our good, knowing that He will not give us burdens which are too much for us to bear and that His grace is sufficient to enable us to bear it. As we thank and praise Him, we experience the joy that is our heritage in Christ and “the joy of the LORD is our strength.

Christian joy is living life within the conscious framework of God’s love and care for us, facing the ups and downs of our lives with deep faith that the Lord is always there, comforting and caring for us; and being glad, rejoicing, that we are always under His loving care.

This doesn’t mean that we will always be happy, but no matter what our circumstances, we are able to stand on the solid rock of joy. [1]

Joy is prayer–Joy is strength–Joy is love–Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls… A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love. - Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Joy)

[1] Anchor The Joy of the Lord—Our Hope and Strength