Joy: Freedom from Circumstances

Intro

In many cultures, particularly African cultures, joy is expressed loudly—through dancing, singing, and celebration. But what happens when life doesn’t give us a reason to dance? Can we still have joy when life feels heavy, when struggles seem unending, or when grief fills our heart? 

The primary reason I wanted to explore the fruit of the Spirit, one quality at a time, is that I realized I couldn’t define joy without using clichés. What does it mean to have joy when the circumstances of life feel unbearable—like facing a diagnosis, recovering from trauma, or adjusting to life when things don’t go as planned? 

I use these negative examples not because joy is only for negative experiences but because it is precisely in those moments that we wrestle with the meaning of joy. We generally tend to have no problem with being joyful, at least as we understand it, when life is good and we have most of what we want. 

But when the rubber meets the road and it aint the road we want to be on, we start to struggle with what it means to be joyful. Does it mean I can’t be sad? Does it mean I can’t say that it hurt? Does it mean I can’t cry and be filled with grief? 

My hope today is that we will leave with a clear understanding of what joy is, and how we can experience it. 

The university, the media, the pop culture can all try to explain what joy means but biblical joy can only be found by those who belong to God.  

During my study, I realized that there were as many definitions of joy as there were people giving them. Meaning for each person who defined joy, you got a different definition.  

C.S. Lewis, the well-respect British author, theologian, and scholar of English literature described joy as a deep longing and profound experience that points toward God.  

Kay Warren, the American author, bible teacher, and wife of well-known Pastor Rick Warren described joy as a settled assurance that God is in control, a quiet confidence that everything will be okay, and a determined choice to praise Him in all circumstances. 

Two different people, two different definitions of joy. Do you sense how difficult it might be to define joy? 

As you sit there, how would you define joy? 

Difficult it may be to define but we will try.  

Open your bible or bible app to Galatians 5:16-25.finiti This is our main scripture for our fruit of freedom series. But we’ll look at other scriptures to understand joy more deeply. We’ll read and ask for God’s blessing on the proclamation of his word. 

Definition 

Here’s the definition I want us to carry with us for today: Joy is an enduring excitement in God that transcends circumstances because it is rooted in His presence and provision. 

Enduring Excitement in God through Jesus 

Let’s look first at the first part of the description: An enduring excitement in God through Jesus.  

I remember when I was coming to the U.S. I was excited. I couldn’t wait to see the wonderful America. My emotions were all in with seeing America.  

I remember when I graduated from high school. Do you remember? I was so excited to go to college and not for the education. The college experience was all I could think about.  

I remember when it was time for Edem to be delivered. I was so excited to meet him. Nothing else really mattered.  

How do you feel when you are excited?  No matter how you react physically, either by being jubilant or subdued, one thing is for sure, your mind is fixed on the thing that excites you. You have a positive affection that is accompanied by a level of expectation toward that thing.   

I had an expectation that the U.S would be much better than where I was coming from. I had an expectation that college experience would be fun. I had an expectation that being a dad would be a wonderful experience.  

The things that we are most excited about often take priority in our minds. 

We see this with the Shepherds who got word that a king was born in Matthew 2:10. It says “When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy.” The shepherds had a positive affection toward the star and the affection was accompanied by the expectation it would lead them to the king.  We also see it in Luke 15:7 which says “I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.” Heaven has a positive affection toward a saved sinner and that affection is accompanied by the expectation the sinner will walk with God in righteousness.  

Think about the excitement you feel when your favorite artist drops a new song, or when your favorite sports team makes a winning play. That kind of excitement is directed toward something or someone.  

But biblical joy is when our excitement is directed toward God. 

That’s what we see in Philippians 4:4, when Paul wrote “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Our joy is in the Lord. Not in something else. 

To be excited in God through Jesus is to have a positive affection that should take priority in our minds. But excitement isn’t just a positive affection toward a thing, it is positive affection that is accompanied by expectations.  

What exactly are those expectations? That takes us to the second part of our description.  

Rooted in His Presence and Provision 

Joy is an excitement in God through Jesus that is rooted in his presence and provision. The expectation that accompanies our positive affection is the expectation that God will be present with us and will provide for us. So, when we are told to be joyful in the Lord in all circumstances, it can be so because joy is having a positive affected toward in the midst of the circumstance because we expect him to be present with us in the circumstance and to provide for us what we need in that moment.  

This is what makes Biblical joy different. God is the object of our joy not our circumstance and the expectation is that God will be present and will provide what we need.  

It is why David wrote in Psalm 16:11 “You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy;” and in Psalm 21:6 “You give him blessings forever; you cheer him with joy in your presence.” We have joy because we expect God will be present with us and in his presence our joy increases. In his presence we get to experience his goodness and faithfulness. That’s why Psalm 100 encourages us to sing joyful songs because the Lord is good and faithful.  

David ended Psalm 32 with these words “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart." He encourages joy because of the expectation that God will provide forgiveness, protection, and love. That’s what we see when we read Psalm 32.  

Why should we have joy toward God at all times as Paul wrote in Philippians? Because we can expect him to be present with us and to provide what we need.  

There remains one final question to be answered which is when should we be joyful? That brings us to the third part of the description.  

Transcends all circumstances 

If joy is an excitement, do we ditch it in moments that don’t feel particularly exciting? 

It is enduring because it transcends all circumstances.  

The bible tells us multiple times to pursue joy in midst of trials and difficulties. The book of James says “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials.” And Paul in his second letter to the Corinthian church wrote this series of paradox phrases in 2 Corinthians 6 and he included this one in verse 10. We are regarded as those who are grieving because of all that we have lost yet, we are always rejoicing. In chapter 7:4, he wrote, “I am overflowing with joy in all our afflictions.”  

Joy is freedom from circumstance. Please do not believe any preacher that tells you life is suppose to be filled with only good things. Please do not believe any preacher that tells you sorrow and pain is not meant for the children of God. Please do no believe any preacher that tells you your faith is the reason you can’t overcome life’s difficulties.  

The first thing I want you to note in the passages I just quoted is that Paul and James do not deny the reality of sorrow, trials, suffering, and afflictions. The presence of joy is not the absence of grief, but the presence of Joy is the acknowledgment of the supremacy of God even in our grief.  

When Paul was in prison, he sang songs of praise. The walls were cold, and he was in chains, but his heart was free. That’s joy that transcends circumstances 

We can be sorrowful and at the same time have a positive affection toward God because we know he is present and will provide what we need.  

Joy is about who gets to control our primary emotional response to the circumstances of life. Joy says God does. The absence of biblical joy can only lead to despair, and hopelessness.  

Joy is enduring because it is rooted in God and isn't controlled by the present circumstance.  

It’s not only excitement that is giddy and has hands raised in songs of praise. But it can be in the quiet space of the soul. A quiet excitement. An excitement that extinguishes despair and reminds us that God got out back.  

Conclusion 

Bringing it all together as we wrap up, whether we are in state of gratitude for what God has done or in a state of grief for what he has allowed, we can be joyful. Not because we are content with our situation but because we believe God is present and will provide what we need.  

Joy is our emotional response to the peace we have.  

When life gives you lemons, it’s easy to want to make lemonade. But sometimes, life gives you lemons and steals your sugar. What do you do then? Joy says God’s got more sugar than you could ever need!" 

Being joyful when life serves you lemons is not easy. It can be too easy for us to be overwhelmed with our situation rather than respond with joy. It is easy for us to feel pity for ourselves and eat ice-cream in despair rather than be filled with joy.  

But with joy, when anxiety rises, it reminds you to turn your affection to God, knowing He holds your future. When life feels uncertain, joy says, “God’s got me—even when I don’t have it all together.” And when life gives you lemons without sugar, joy says, “God has all the sweetness I need.”  

When Paul says, “rejoice in the Lord always”, it means joy should be a pattern of our life.  It means we should fight against moments when God isn’t the driving force of our emotional response.  

What’s one thing in your life that brings you joy right now? Now, imagine holding on to that joy even in tough times—this is what joy in God looks like. It’s not based on what’s happening but on who He is 

In a world where anxiety and depression are on the rise, joy is not just a nice-to-have—it’s a necessity. God’s joy doesn’t deny your pain, but it gives you hope in the middle of it. 

So, this week can I challenge you to reflect on this: What is driving your emotional response—your circumstances or your trust in God? 

Let us pray that God will develop within us a disposition of joy. That we would be people who are always rejoicing. People who are not easily overcome by their circumstances.  

The joy of the Lord is your strength.