Welcome to Waymaker Church! We are so excited to have you join us today! We exist to Encounter, Live for, and Advance the Kingdom of God!

A question was asked for this series, and it was a simple question… “What is Joy?”

There have been many times in life when I have found myself staring in the mirror, saying,
“This surely isn’t it, right? We weren’t created to go to school, find a job, make money, spend money, leave an inheritance, and then become a dash between two numbers of my beginning and end… were we?”

The weight of the truth of our situation brings on stress—the stress begins in the emotions of fear, anxiety, hopelessness, and sadness. A lot of our emotional toll comes from the weight of our decisions…

And here is where we take a turn…

To this point, we are simply thinking about and leaning into Carnal things… we haven’t even touched the spiritual quotient.

We know happiness is fleeting! Emotions are temporal. Ps. Joel alluded to this a few weeks ago. I think we can all agree that this isn’t Joy…

So spiritually, what does the word say about Joy?

Biblically, joy is more than a fleeting feeling of happiness — it is a deep, spiritual gladness rooted in God’s presence, promises, and purposes, not in external circumstances.

Let’s take this a little deeper… Joy is a steadfast delight in God that flows from knowing Him, trusting His promises, and living in His will, regardless of circumstances.

1. Joy comes from
Psalm 16:11 – “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

True joy originates in relationship with God, not in possessions, success, or comfort.

2. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22–23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…

Joy is not self-generated; it is produced by the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer walking in fellowship with God.

3. Joy endures through trials.
James 1:2–3 – “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

Biblical joy coexists with pain and hardship because it is anchored in trust that God is at work for good.

4. Joy is rooted in salvation!
Isaiah 12:3 – “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

Luke 2:10–11 – The angels announce “good news of great joy” because of the coming Savior.

Joy arises from the revelation that we are loved, forgiven, and redeemed by God through Christ.

5. Joy is both a command and a response.
Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

Joy is not just a reaction to blessings but a deliberate response of faith and gratitude in all circumstances.

Response:

This brings up the question, “What have you been running after?”
• Are you looking for the next thing that makes you happy?
• Are you in competition with your former self?
• Are you hanging on the words that were spoken over you years/decades ago?
• Are you letting your circumstances dictate you state of being?

I ask because you aren’t supposed to stay there! It’s okay right now to recognize you are there, but let’s walk through this valley and not set up camp in it!
• Paul was saying… CHOOSE JOY!
• No matter what you see in the mirror, Choose joy.
• No matter what mistakes you’ve made, Choose joy.
• No matter what you missed following through on, Choose joy.
• No matter what has been spoken over you, Choose joy.

Why? Because you know God!
• And maybe you don’t yet, but here in a moment, you’ll have the
opportunity to lay your life down before him.

• Joy comes from God’s Presence in your life!
• Joy is a fruit of the Spirit in your life!
• Joy endures tough trials in your life!
• Joy is rooted in the salvation of your life!
• Joy is a command and a response in your life!

Could you imagine what the church would look like if it lived this way?

Could you imagine the freedom we could live in understanding that Biblical joy is a Spirit-produced gladness of the heart that comes from knowing God, trusting His word, and resting in His salvation—not dependent on circumstances but anchored in the unchanging character of God.

It’s safe to say that the world that feels lost and hopeless would find what it’s looking for! The joy that comes from the peace of knowing God, trusting his word, and resting in His Salvation.

This makes John the Baptist's words a little more pungent in our own lives:
John 3:30 NLT
30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

Pure Joy is simple… It’s just Him… No additives needed.