Joy

The 1719 English hymn "Joy to the World" is a popular Christmas carol. It was written by the English minister and hymnist Isaac Watts.

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."

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.

Bible and Christianity on joy

The Bible is the best-selling book of all time.

Between 5 to 7 billion Bibles have been published.

Bible verses on joy

• 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

The half a glass of water helps illustrates of two different mental attitudes, optimism (half full) and pessimism (half empty)

• 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

• How to Cultivate Joy in a Challenging World

• Cultivate Joy to Improve Well-being

• Cultivating Joy: 6 Ways to Cultivate Joy in Your Life

• 4 Ways to Cultivate Joy in Our Lives

Scientific study of joy

The five components of emotional intelligence are: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.

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

Beatific vision