Finding Your JoySample

Joy is a Spiritual Force

Joy isn’t a passive feeling—it’s a power that works in you.

In the natural, joy can seem like a lighthearted emotion. But in the spirit, it’s anything but soft. Joy fuels you. It gives you strength to keep going when everything says quit. Joy doesn’t ignore hardship—it rises above it.

Nehemiah 8:10 doesn’t say your circumstances are your strength. It doesn’t say your own willpower is your strength. It says the joy of the Lord is your strength. That means when you tap into God’s joy, you’re tapping into spiritual resilience.

This kind of joy isn’t tied to comfort or convenience. Paul wrote about joy while sitting in prison (Philippians 4:4). Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). That kind of joy doesn’t make sense to the world—it’s supernatural.

And here’s the good news: you don’t have to stir it up in your own strength. You have the Holy Spirit inside you, constantly producing this fruit. Your job? Stay connected to Him. Stay focused on Him instead of your circumstances. When you do that, the joy will flow!