March 17th, 2025
by Joel Sosa
by Joel Sosa
The Joy That Can't Be Stolen: Finding Unshakeable Happiness in Christ
In a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable, where circumstances can change in an instant, is it possible to find a joy that remains constant? A happiness that can't be stolen, regardless of what life throws our way? The answer, beautifully and powerfully, is yes.
True joy isn't about fleeting emotions or temporary pleasures. It's not dependent on our situations or achievements. Instead, it's rooted in something far deeper and more profound – our position in Christ. This positional joy is the key to experiencing a fullness of life that transcends our ever-changing circumstances.
David, the psalmist, understood this well when he wrote, "You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever" (Psalm 16:11). Notice how he links joy directly to God's presence, not to his own accomplishments or the state of his kingdom.
But what exactly is this joy? It's more than just a feeling of happiness. Joy can be defined as "extreme happiness in the soul produced by the Holy Spirit and dependent upon Jesus rather than who we are or what's happening around us." This definition highlights a crucial truth – true joy isn't self-generated. It's a divine gift, flowing from our relationship with God.
Jesus himself prayed for His followers to experience this joy. In John 17:13, He says, "Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so that they would be filled with my joy." Christ desires for us to be filled with His joy – a joy that's unshakeable because it's grounded in who He is, not in our circumstances.
However, many of us struggle to access this joy because we've allowed other things to take God's place in our hearts. We've made the world our god, seeking fulfillment and happiness in temporary pleasures or achievements. But Jesus reminds us, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
The apostle Paul provides a powerful example of living with this unshakeable joy. Writing from prison, he exhorts the Philippian church to "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4). Despite his dire circumstances, Paul's joy remained intact because it was rooted in his relationship with Christ, not in his comfort or freedom.
So how do we cultivate this kind of joy in our own lives? Paul gives us a roadmap:
1. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
2. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.
3. Focus your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.
When we follow these steps, Paul promises that we will "experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand" (Philippians 4:7).
However, there's often an obstacle that stands in the way of us experiencing this joy – fear. Fear is the true opposition to joy, not sadness as many might assume. Fear takes us out of our position in Christ and distorts our perspective.
There are five primary fears that can derail our joy:
1. Fear of betrayal: "I cannot trust."
2. Fear of abandonment: "I will be left alone."
3. Fear of failure: "I'm not good enough."
4. Fear of insignificance: "I don't matter."
5. Fear of rejection: "I'm not wanted."
These fears can speak louder than God's love in our lives if we let them. But here's the liberating truth: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment" (1 John 4:18).
God's love for us isn't just unconditional – it's eternal. Nothing in all of creation can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). When we truly grasp this, fear loses its power over us.
To combat these fears and cultivate unshakeable joy, we need to embrace two fundamental truths:
1. You are His joy. Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that God "will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs." Imagine that – the Creator of the universe sings joyfully over you!
2. God's joy increases with your repentance. Every time we turn back to God, heaven throws a party. Remember the parable of the prodigal son? The father's exuberant celebration at his son's return is a picture of how God responds when we come back to Him.
This is what Nehemiah meant when he said, "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). As we draw near to God, repenting and seeking His face, we tap into a supernatural strength and joy that can sustain us through any circumstance.
In light of these truths, how should we respond? With celebration! Our worship, our gatherings, our daily lives should be infused with joy – not because everything is perfect, but because we serve a God who is worthy of all praise, who has redeemed us, and who rejoices over us.
So let's shift our focus from our circumstances to our Savior. Let's allow the reality of God's love and delight in us to drive out our fears. Let's cultivate a joy that's rooted in our position in Christ, not in the fleeting pleasures of this world.
As we do, we'll discover a happiness that truly can't be stolen – a joy that remains steady even when everything around us is shaking. This is the life God intends for us – one filled with His presence, His peace, and His unshakeable joy.
May we learn to fix our thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. May we come to God with thankfulness and prayer instead of worry. And may we live each day in the liberating knowledge that we are deeply loved and celebrated by the King of Kings.
This is the path to true joy – a joy that can't be stolen, a joy that will be our strength in every season of life.
In a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable, where circumstances can change in an instant, is it possible to find a joy that remains constant? A happiness that can't be stolen, regardless of what life throws our way? The answer, beautifully and powerfully, is yes.
True joy isn't about fleeting emotions or temporary pleasures. It's not dependent on our situations or achievements. Instead, it's rooted in something far deeper and more profound – our position in Christ. This positional joy is the key to experiencing a fullness of life that transcends our ever-changing circumstances.
David, the psalmist, understood this well when he wrote, "You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever" (Psalm 16:11). Notice how he links joy directly to God's presence, not to his own accomplishments or the state of his kingdom.
But what exactly is this joy? It's more than just a feeling of happiness. Joy can be defined as "extreme happiness in the soul produced by the Holy Spirit and dependent upon Jesus rather than who we are or what's happening around us." This definition highlights a crucial truth – true joy isn't self-generated. It's a divine gift, flowing from our relationship with God.
Jesus himself prayed for His followers to experience this joy. In John 17:13, He says, "Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so that they would be filled with my joy." Christ desires for us to be filled with His joy – a joy that's unshakeable because it's grounded in who He is, not in our circumstances.
However, many of us struggle to access this joy because we've allowed other things to take God's place in our hearts. We've made the world our god, seeking fulfillment and happiness in temporary pleasures or achievements. But Jesus reminds us, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
The apostle Paul provides a powerful example of living with this unshakeable joy. Writing from prison, he exhorts the Philippian church to "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4). Despite his dire circumstances, Paul's joy remained intact because it was rooted in his relationship with Christ, not in his comfort or freedom.
So how do we cultivate this kind of joy in our own lives? Paul gives us a roadmap:
1. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
2. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.
3. Focus your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.
When we follow these steps, Paul promises that we will "experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand" (Philippians 4:7).
However, there's often an obstacle that stands in the way of us experiencing this joy – fear. Fear is the true opposition to joy, not sadness as many might assume. Fear takes us out of our position in Christ and distorts our perspective.
There are five primary fears that can derail our joy:
1. Fear of betrayal: "I cannot trust."
2. Fear of abandonment: "I will be left alone."
3. Fear of failure: "I'm not good enough."
4. Fear of insignificance: "I don't matter."
5. Fear of rejection: "I'm not wanted."
These fears can speak louder than God's love in our lives if we let them. But here's the liberating truth: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment" (1 John 4:18).
God's love for us isn't just unconditional – it's eternal. Nothing in all of creation can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). When we truly grasp this, fear loses its power over us.
To combat these fears and cultivate unshakeable joy, we need to embrace two fundamental truths:
1. You are His joy. Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that God "will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs." Imagine that – the Creator of the universe sings joyfully over you!
2. God's joy increases with your repentance. Every time we turn back to God, heaven throws a party. Remember the parable of the prodigal son? The father's exuberant celebration at his son's return is a picture of how God responds when we come back to Him.
This is what Nehemiah meant when he said, "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). As we draw near to God, repenting and seeking His face, we tap into a supernatural strength and joy that can sustain us through any circumstance.
In light of these truths, how should we respond? With celebration! Our worship, our gatherings, our daily lives should be infused with joy – not because everything is perfect, but because we serve a God who is worthy of all praise, who has redeemed us, and who rejoices over us.
So let's shift our focus from our circumstances to our Savior. Let's allow the reality of God's love and delight in us to drive out our fears. Let's cultivate a joy that's rooted in our position in Christ, not in the fleeting pleasures of this world.
As we do, we'll discover a happiness that truly can't be stolen – a joy that remains steady even when everything around us is shaking. This is the life God intends for us – one filled with His presence, His peace, and His unshakeable joy.
May we learn to fix our thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. May we come to God with thankfulness and prayer instead of worry. And may we live each day in the liberating knowledge that we are deeply loved and celebrated by the King of Kings.
This is the path to true joy – a joy that can't be stolen, a joy that will be our strength in every season of life.
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