In the Old Testament, they celebrated joy with feasts and festivals. My joy comes from discovering God's will for my life, which the Bible reveals is good, pleasing, and perfect. It's not about what's happening around me or how I'm feeling at the moment, but about finding true joy in the salvation I have in Jesus.
I want to encourage you today to let go of any sadness you're holding onto. Cast out bitterness and resentment from your heart, and let the everlasting joy of Jesus flood your soul. You'll find you have so much to smile about, and so much less to feel down about.
Think about it: everything around you was created by God for your enjoyment. So smile for Him, and let your heart overflow with love in His presence. That gray sky will soon disappear, and He’ll paint a rainbow just for you.
He’s turned my mourning into dancing; He’s filled me with joy. Sure, life isn’t always happy-go-lucky, but in God, I find peace because I trust that He’s working everything out for my good (Romans 8:28).
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for Elohim loveth a cheerful giver.
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Rejoice evermore.Pray without ceasing.In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of Elohim in Moshiach Y'shuw`a concerning you.
And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Make a joyful noise unto YY , all ye lands.Serve YY with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
The statutes of YY are right, rejoicing the heart: The Commandment of YY is pure, enlightening the eyes.
YY thy Elohim in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of Elohim, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for Elohim now accepteth thy works.
YY is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of Elohim.
For the Kingdom of Elohim is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and shalom, and joy in Ruach HaKodesh.
Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:Yet I will rejoice in YY , I will joy in the Elohim of my salvation.
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before Elohim: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
For thou, YY , hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.
Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.Rejoice in YY , ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, YY hath done great things for them.YY hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose Elohim is YY .
Let Yisrael rejoice in him that made him: let the children of TZiyon be joyful in their King.
Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
For Elohim giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before Elohim. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Every man also to whom Elohim hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of Elohim.
Behold, Elohim is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for YY **YY ** is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
And the ransomed of YY shall return, and come to TZiyon with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Therefore the redeemed of YY shall return, and come with singing unto TZiyon; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
To appoint unto them that mourn in TZiyon, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of YY , that he might be glorified.
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O YY Elohim of hosts.
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his talmidim word.
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of Elohim over one sinner that repenteth.
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of Elohim.And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Now the Elohim of hope fill you with all joy and shalom in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of Ruach HaKodesh.
Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in YY . To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
And the shalom of Elohim, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Moshiach Y'shuw`a.
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Let the word of Moshiach dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to YY .
And ye became followers of us, and of YY , having received the word in much affliction, with joy of Ruach HaKodesh:
Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
Looking unto Y'shuw`a the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the execution stake, despising the shame, and is set down at the Right Hand of the Throne of Elohim.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of the sufferings of Moshiach; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
Be glad in YY , and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O YY , in the light of thy countenance.In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
O come, let us sing unto YY : let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
The meek also shall increase their joy in YY , and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Yisrael.
Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for YY hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
I will greatly rejoice in YY , my soul shall be joyful in my Elohim; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of YY shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.
Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Yisrael: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise YY -TZvaot: for YY is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of YY . For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith YY .
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
And being brought on their way by the Congregation, they passed through Phoenicea and Shomron, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in shalom; and the Elohim of love and shalom shall be with you.
Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in YY , my dearly beloved.
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Moshiach in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the Congregation:
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Y'shuw`a HaMoshiach at his coming?For ye are our glory and joy.
For what thanks can we render to Elohim again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our Elohim;
I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a Commandment from The Father.
For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,