Letters to the Faithful - The Pursuit of True Joy
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that we might live in the light of His love forever. I greet you, dear brothers and sisters, as one called to proclaim the goodness of our Savior, and I write to you with a heart stirred by the Spirit to consider together the pursuit of true joy—a treasure promised to us in the gospel.
To the saints scattered abroad, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, I give thanks to God for your faith, your steadfastness, and your zeal for His Word. You have received with open hands the Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, and you have sought to live as those justified by His grace alone. Yet, beloved, I urge you now to press deeper into the riches of this grace, that you might know the fullness of joy that is yours in Him.
For what is this true joy we seek? It is not the fleeting pleasure of the world, which fades like the grass beneath the sun, nor the hollow laughter of those who chase after wind. No, this joy is a gift from above, rooted in the unchanging love of God, sealed by the resurrection of His Son, and poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. It is the joy of the Psalmist who declares, “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). It is the joy our Lord Himself spoke of, saying, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).
Yet how often, dear friends, do we turn aside from this wellspring of delight? We are a people prone to wander, lured by the siren call of lesser things—wealth, status, or the approval of men. We toil as if joy were a wage to be earned, forgetting that it is a fruit of the Spirit, freely given to those who abide in Christ. Have you not seen it? The one who trusts in gold finds his heart empty, while the one who trusts in the Lord is like a tree planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in season and out (Psalm 1:3). Therefore, I beseech you, examine your hearts: Where have you sought joy apart from Him who is its source?
Let us then pursue true joy as those who have been set free by the gospel. First, fix your eyes upon Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). Meditate on His sacrifice, His victory, and His promise to return. Is there any greater cause for rejoicing than this—that we, once dead in sin, are now alive in Him? Second, cling to the Word of God, for it is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105). Through it, the Spirit renews your mind, teaching you to delight in His statutes more than in riches. Third, gather with the saints, for in the fellowship of believers, iron sharpens iron, and our joy is made complete as we bear one another’s burdens and sing His praises together.
Beware, beloved, of the thief who comes to steal and kill and destroy (John 10:10). The enemy of our souls would have you believe that joy is found in self, in comfort, or in the absence of trial. But consider the apostles, who rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name (Acts 5:41). Consider Paul and Silas, singing hymns in prison, their chains no match for the freedom of their spirits. True joy does not bend to circumstance; it flows from the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Now, some among you may say, “But my heart is heavy, my days are marked by sorrow—where then is this joy?” To you, dear one, I say: Cast your burden upon the Lord, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). He is near to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). Your tears are not unseen, nor your prayers unheard. The joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10), not because it denies your pain, but because it sustains you through it, pointing you ever toward the day when He will wipe every tear from your eyes.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, let us run with endurance the race set before us, seeking not the shadow of happiness, but the substance of joy in Christ. Encourage one another daily, that none may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hold fast to the hope of His coming, when our joy shall be unveiled in His presence, unmarred and unending.
I close with this charge: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4). May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Romans 15:13). The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, now and forevermore. Amen.