Thomas Watson once commented that “There are two things which I have always looked upon as difficult. The one is, to make the wicked sad; the other is, to make the godly joyful.”¹ That ought to surprise and shame us, because the fact that the wicked are not sad signifies the Spirit’s absence (John 16:8-11), while the fact that the godly are joyful is meant to signify His presence (Gal 5:22). When the Holy Spirit first begins to work in the heart of a person, He generates sorrow, not joy. By nature the heart is indifferent and complacent, not full of joy in the Lord. The convicting work of the Holy Spirit produces sorrow by showing that the heart is spiritually bankrupt; it is under God’s condemnation and wrath. By the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, He brings us to repentance and faith, pointing us to the atoning work of Christ. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that generates the gift of spiritual assurance and happiness. The Lord has promised that His people will not remain in a state of perpetual gloom, but they will have spiritual joy in the Lord.

What is spiritual joy? It is a deep cheerfulness and gladness of heart. This joy is a disposition of a renewed heart that includes an authentic thankfulness, anticipation of the Lord’s goodness and a calm spirit. When we know Christ as our Lord and Savior, and personally benefit from all that He has accomplished, there is a deep joy that fills the heart of a believer. There is joy in believing (Rom. 12:12; 14:17; 15:13). As the Holy Spirit works in the lives of believers they experience real joy. The people of God possess a real joy; a ‘holy cheerfulness,’ as John Brown called it.

Christian joy is expressed in a number of unique characteristics. Christian joy is a continuous and precious act of worship. As the believer participates in worship, he finds his deepest joy and delight in the Lord (Ps. 27:6). The Lord is not honored by unhappy, joyless Christians. Although a believer may temporarily misplace his joy due to sin in his life, he must never allow his underlying trust in the Lord, his calm, and his thankfulness for spiritual blessings to be swept away.

Christian joy also makes us more useful in service to God. When joy fills the heart, the believer may become a magnet to attract others to the Savior. A rejoicing believer is much more useful in the service of the Lord. As well, Christian joy delivers us from many snares of temptation. We are much less likely to be tempted to great covetousness if we are satisfied, rejoicing people. Christian joy stimulates our worship, enables us to greater service for the Lord and frees us from the snare of covetousness.

Only a Christian has true, lasting joy. This joy is different than a worldly pleasure that appears to be sincere Christian joy (Titus 3:3; James 4:1, 3). For example, the rich, young ruler was merry with his riches (Luke 12:19) while the father of the prodigal son was also full of joy when his son returned (Luke 15:23-24, 32). While there is happiness that is dependent on circumstances, biblical joy is more constant and it is not dependent on the circumstances. A believer is sustained by God in the most trying circumstances in life, and he may rejoice in the Lord even when circumstances are adverse (Hab. 3:17-18). This Christian joy possesses a spiritual power that buoys the believer, even in the midst of deep trials. Joy for the believer is full of hope; Paul calls this hope “the hope of righteousness.” (Gal. 5:5). This hope carries a believer through times of suffering. It is hope that enables believers to rejoice even in sufferings, and their endurance of sufferings in a Christian spirit strengthens their hope (Rom. 5:3-5).

Even in the darkest trials we will be able to “rejoice always” (1 Thess. 5:16), for the Holy Spirit generates this joy. We can rejoice in the midst of trials knowing that God is forming Christ-likeness in us, and, ultimately, God’s name will be glorified. Joy is not the absence of pain or suffering; rather, it is a deep contentment grounded in Christ and steadfast in the knowledge that one is firmly in the Savior’s grasp. There is a joy that transcends the circumstances of life, for it is grounded in the finished work of Christ for sinners. Joy rooted in hope is more than enough to carry the believer through the storms of life. This deep and abiding joy of the Spirit is freely offered to everyone who places their trust in the finished work of Christ on behalf of sinners. May the joy of the Holy Spirit fill your heart and life as you “let your light shine before men ... and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

Christian joy may decline in the life of a believer due to sin and pride. A deep abiding joy in the Lord cannot mix with a lifestyle of intentional sin and pride. Sin robs the believer of joy, and pride crushes the believer’s ability to receive the joy of the Lord. However, the main cause for a lack of joy in the Spirit is the failure to live by faith in every circumstance of life. Although the believer may lose his feelings of joy, the Lord, through the Holy Spirit, desires that Christian joy should increase. Through acts of worship, both publicly and privately, the joy of the Lord is invigorated. In acts of repentance the joy of the Lord is exercised as the conscience is settled and made right with the Lord through the atoning blood of Christ. As the believer reflects on the goodness and mercy of the Lord he has experienced, his heart will overflow with the joy of the Spirit. As the believer comes before the merciful and gracious Lord, Christian joy is fortified, knowing that he lays all his requests and petitions before his heavenly Father. The believer has every spiritual reason to be full of joy in the Spirit (Rom 8:32).