Joy
Joy is a feeling of exuberant happiness experienced at a particular time. It is referenced frequently in the Old Testament such as (in Pentateuch) :
Leviticus 23:40-41:
- "...and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. You shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year."
As well as in:
Psalm 32:11:
- "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart".
Psalm 104:33:
- "I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have any being."[1]
2 Samuel 6:14:
- "And David danced before the LORD with all his might.."
and New Testament, most notably in Luke 2:10-11:
- "When an angel appeared to shepherds in the Galilean countryside to announce the birth of a Savior, he said, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. It is considered by many Christians as a foretaste of heaven itself.
The confident expectation of Christian hope in the "sure and certain" knowledge of resurrection to eternal life in God, through the purchase of salvation by the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ, is the cause of sustained joy in the midst of the temporary trials and griefs and disappointments of life (see Philippians 3:8-16; James 1:12; Hebrews chapters 12–13). Christian hope is rooted firmly in the joy of the assured and confident expectation of good guaranteed by the unbreakable promises of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Contents
Bible and Christianity on joy

Between 5 to 7 billion Bibles have been published.
Bible verses on joy
"For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." - Romans 14:7 (NRSV)
"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
Other Bible verses:
- Bible verses on joy, BibleStudyTools.com
- Bible verses on joy, OpenBible.info
- Bible verses on joy
- 50 Inspiring Bible Verses on Joy to Feed Your Soul
Christianity and articles/sermons on joy
Articles:
- What Is Joy in Christianity?, Christianity.com
- Joy (Chara) Advent Word Study, BibleProject.com
- A theology of joy
- What Is the Difference Between Happiness and Joy?, Compasssion International
- What the Bible Says About Joy, Compassion International
- The Joy of God in Us
- The Beauty of Seeking Both Joy and Happiness in Christ, BibleStudyTools.com
- Joy, Biblehub.com
Videos/audio:
- Joy (Bible/theology) - video playlist, video playlist
- Fullness of Joy: A Biblical Theology of God - video playlist, Video playlist, Reformed Forum
- Sermons on joy, Sermonaudio.com
Key ways to cultivate joy
- Spiritual development/growth/maturity and spiritual practices such as Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, etc.
- Character development. See: Virtue
- Gratitude practice: Dedicate time each day to write down or mentally acknowledge things you are thankful for, big or small.
- Optimism, positive thinking/attitude, Positive self-talk: Repeat positive statements about yourself/circumstances to boost your mood.
- Mindfulness: Pay attention to the present moment and actively notice positive experiences in your daily life.
- Social connection: Spend quality time with supportive friends and family. See: Social network and Social influence
- Meaningful activities: Pursue work, hobbies and interests that help others and bring you joy and happiness.
- Acts of kindness/charity: Doing things to help others, like offering a compliment or volunteering.
- Time in nature: Spend time outdoors to appreciate the beauty of your surroundings. See also: Argument from beauty
- Self-care routine: Incorporate activities that nourish your body and mind, like exercise, relaxation techniques, and healthy eating.
- Practice forgiveness
- Limit negative thoughts/emotions and exposure to negative people or people with toxic personality traits: Be conscious of negative thoughts and actively focus on the positive aspects of your life. See: Social influence and Social network and Social intelligence
Articles
- How can you find joy (or at least peace) during difficult times?, Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School
Psychology: Happiness vs. joy
See also: Happiness
According to Cynthia Vinney, PhD:
“ | “Joy is a deep primary emotion individuals experience when they feel truly connected in relationships, are in alignment with their values, and/or have a sense of meaning and purpose,” Lindsey Rae Ackerman, LMFT, vice president of Clinical Services at Clear Behavioral Health, explains.
A complex emotion, joy signals pleasure but can also come with “a combination of grief and gratitude,” says Daniel Boscaljon, PhD, cofounder of Alchemy of Love. “Joy is the ability to affirm the goodness of life even in the midst of sorrow.” Research has mixed definitions of happiness, but according to Ackerman, it's “an emotional state that can occur through momentary experiences and is often dependent on external factors such as an achievement or gaining material satisfaction.” “Happiness often occurs spontaneously, in a moment arising through a convergence of time and place,” Boscaljon adds. Joy and happiness may be synonyms, but they are different experiences. “The two are fairly distinct, according to most researchers,” says Matt Sosnowsky, LCSW, founder and director of Philadelphia Talk Therapy. Happiness is temporary and ephemeral, whereas joy is more enduring. Sosnowsky adds that happiness can come from things in a “here and now” state like eating an ice cream cone or spending meaningful time with a loved one. He explains that joy, in comparison, comes from a sustained internal and external relationship that creates fulfillment.2 Think of things like being a part of a community, raising a child, or engaging in a personal hobby you're passionate about. “If happiness is the emotion we experience during lunch with a good friend, joy is the aggregate satisfaction we feel from all of our meaningful relationships,” Sosnowsky says.[3] |
” |
Scientific study of joy

See also: Emotions
- Science of Joy, Santa Maria College
- Unwrapping the Science of Joy, John Templeton Foundation, 2024
- Joy is good for your body and your mind – three ways to feel it more often, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Happiness vs. joy
- Experts Reveal the One Key Difference Between Joy and Happiness by Cynthia Vinney, PhD, VeryWellMind.com
- Joy vs. Happiness: Understanding the Difference
- Joy Vs. Happiness: What’s The Difference?
Videos:
- Science and psychology of joy - video playlist, Video playlist
- The Art and Science of Joy - YouTube channel
External links
- Happiness vs. Joy
- The Difference Between Happiness and Joy by David Brooks
See also
Notes
- ↑ https://mechon-mamre.org/e/et/et26a4.htm
- ↑ The Bible is the best selling book of all time, Guinness Book of Word Record
- ↑ Experts Reveal the One Key Difference Between Joy and Happiness by Cynthia Vinney, PhD
- ↑ Domains of Emotional Intelligence, MBA Knowledge Base