Almost 18 years ago, at my first appointment with my therapist, he asked me what I wanted to get out of our time together. I remember telling him, “I want to find my joy again.” And I think I’ve been on that search ever since—even as my mental health challenge abated.
I’m still curious about joy: what Scripture says about it, where it comes from, and what it really means—especially for those of us who know that joy is not always easy to access.
Before we go any further, I want to make an important distinction.
Happiness vs. Joy
Happiness is usually connected to circumstances. For example, I was so happy to be with my adult children and their loved ones over the Christmas break, and with my sister and her family. So happy!
Joy, however, is bigger than happiness—and different. Joy is not dependent on circumstances. It doesn’t require answers, improvement, or even relief. As we’ll see in the Scripture verses below, biblical joy is rooted in Christ, in God Himself, not in our situations.
And for those of us living with—or loving someone with—mental health challenges, this distinction matters deeply. If joy were simply a feeling we could produce, many of us would conclude we are failing spiritually. Scripture does not support that conclusion!
I also want to show that joy and gratitude go together. They are deeply connected and run both directions: gratitude cultivates joy, and joy expresses itself in gratitude.
A Verse About Joy
When I think of Bible verses about joy, the first one that comes to mind (along with the Sunday School tune!) is:
“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10
Nehemiah spoke these words to the people of Israel when they were overwhelmed with grief and guilt over how far they had strayed from God’s ways. He encouraged them not to remain in despair, but to celebrate God’s faithfulness.
But what does it mean that the joy of the Lord is our strength?
I think it can mean several things:
- First, God delights in us. He has joy over us. Even when we feel sad, weak, or unworthy, we can shift our focus to how He feels about us—and draw strength from that truth.
- Second, when we intentionally place our focus on who God is—His character, grace, mercy, and love—we begin accessing the strength of the Lord already at work within us through His Spirit. That shift can help us resist discouragement and respond in worship.
- Third, the joy of the Lord comes from knowing we are loved, forgiven, never abandoned, and held in eternal hope.
- Finally, this kind of joy is grounded in God—not in ourselves, our performance, or our emotional state.
Other Verses About Joy
There are many verses about joy in Scripture. Here are a few that have been especially meaningful to me:
- “In your presence there is fullness of joy.”
Psalms 16:11b
When we are aware of God’s presence—through prayer, worship, Scripture, or quiet attentiveness—joy becomes possible. Not forced. Not instant. But real. Joy is found in His presence, not in our emotional stability.
- “…looking to Jesus…who for the joy set before Him endured the cross…”
Hebrews 12:2
Jesus endured the cross because He could see what lay beyond it. Think about this: we were the joy set before Him. That alone reshapes how we understand joy—it is deeply relational, sacrificial, and anchored in love.
- “Though the fig tree should not blossom…yet I will rejoice in the Lord.”
Habakkuk 3:17–18
This passage has become especially meaningful to many of us. Joy here is not denial; it is confident trust. It acknowledges loss honestly while still choosing God as Savior.
- “Count it all joy…when you meet trials of various kinds.”
James 1:2
- “…though now for a little while you have been grieved by various trials…”
1 Peter 1:6–9
These verses tell us something important: God knows life is hard. Mental health challenges are not a surprise to Him. Joy here does not erase grief—it coexists with it, anchored in the hope of salvation.
- “But the fruit of the Spirit is…joy…”
Galatians 5:22–23
Joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit. That means it is already present, even when we can’t feel it. Sometimes joy isn’t absent—it’s just inaccessible for a season. And that does not mean we are failing God.
When Joy Feels Out of Reach
As I reflect on these verses, I realize that joy cannot be rooted solely in life on earth. Mental health challenges are real. The news is heavy. Relationships can be strained. This life is hard!
Which means that if I look only to my circumstances, joy will remain fragile or elusive.
Scripture offers something gentler and more durable.
Biblical joy is not an instruction to feel better. It is an invitation to remain connected to God—even when our inner world feels unsteady. Gratitude often becomes the bridge.
Sometimes gratitude is very small:
- I made it through today.
- I am not alone right now.
- God is still holding me, even when my thoughts feel unsafe.
These are not weak expressions of faith. They are honest ones.
For those loving someone who struggles, joy may look like presence rather than answers. Staying. Listening. Refusing to rush someone toward resolution. These, too, are acts of faith.
When joy feels unreachable, it is enough to say:
I am still here. God is still with me.
That truth is often where joy begins to breathe again.
Verses About Gratitude and Joy
Gratitude leads to joy, and joy overflows into gratitude:
- “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good… Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.”
Psalms 107:1–2
Gratitude reorients the heart. When God’s faithfulness is named, joy arises—not because circumstances are easy, but because God is present and trustworthy. - “I will give thanks to You, Lord… I will be glad and rejoice in You.”
Psalms 9:1–2
Joy wants expression. It speaks. It sings. It gives thanks. - “Rejoice always… give thanks in all circumstances.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
This is not a checklist—it’s a rhythm of living in God’s unchanging presence.
Gratitude is not denial. It is trust. And that trust stabilizes joy, even when life is hard.
Closing Thought
If I keep my focus only on this life, joy will feel fragile. But if I look to the Lord—His promises, His presence, His redeeming work—then joy becomes possible.
Joy is in the Lord.
Peggy has been involved with Fresh Hope as a Group Facilitator for over 8 years and as the Hope Coach Trainer for over 6 years. She can be reached at peggy@freshhope.us.
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