I’d like to tell you a story today about a man I know who is deeply joyful. His name is John and he lives in a rural village in Ghana, West Africa.

When I came to his home, he didn’t own a shirt for his own back, but he bought me a Coke with the money he had. My friends and I sat on the dirt floor of his small home (probably the size of one of the bedrooms in our current home) and listened as he enthusiastically shared about the grace and goodness of God in his life.

He worked long days in the fields as a farmer to feed his family and was proud of his hard work. He was thankful for his family, his small home, and the food God provided each day.

He didn’t even have a shirt on his back, but he was joyful.

Meeting John (and others like him in Africa) changed me. They showed me that you don’t need a lot of stuff to be joyful, but you do need God.

Seven Secrets to Joy-Filled Living

Since we often mistake happiness for joy, here are seven secrets from God’s Word that teach us how we, too, can live joy-filled lives:

1. Biblical joy is not the same as a feeling or moment of happiness. We are happy when we go to our favorite restaurant, spend a fun day with our best friend, or have someone surprise us with our favorite dessert. We are happy when circumstances are in our favor, but we can have joy independent of them: “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound” – Psalm 4:7.

In a culture that elevates personal happiness above loving God and others, this is important to clarify.

2. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit of God in our lives. We cannot muster up joy in our own strength. Joy comes as a fruit of the working of the Holy Spirit of God in our lives.

3. Joy blossoms in the soil of gratitude and thankfulness to God. Psalm 107:22 says, “And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!” A heart that is grateful to God for his friendship and undeserved blessings will overflow with thanksgiving and joy!

4. Joy comes as we encounter God’s presence. “…in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” – Psalm 16:11. Maybe circumstances aren’t going too well for us. Maybe we’ve even been through a very difficult loss or trial. But when we draw near to God and realize that He is with us and will never leave, our joy overflows.

5. Joy comes through enduring trials. While it may seem counter-intuitive, Scripture tells us clearly that we ought to “Count it all joy…when you face trials of various kinds. For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” – James 1:2-3. We don’t rejoice in the pain of our trials. We rejoice as we focus on the fruits that come from enduring such trials well – spiritual growth and maturity.

6. Joy comes as we encounter the message of the Gospel (again and again). When we press our knees into the soil at the foot of the Cross and see – amazed! what Christ endured on our behalf – when we see that we are loved this much! forgiven this much! When we see that we have been spared the wrath of the Father that we so deserve, our hearts cannot help but to be filled with awe, gratitude, joy unspeakable.

7. Joy is eternal. While happiness is temporal, the joy we have in Christ is eternal. John 16:22 says, “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” I cannot fully imagine the joy we will have when Christ returns to this earth. We will rejoice at His coming and no one will be able to steal our joy!

As C.S. Lewis says, “Joy is the serious business of Heaven.” My friend, will you choose the constancy of joy today? Or will you settle for moments of temporary happiness? It’s up to you!