Scriptures on Joy

C.S. Lewis once wrote,  “Joy is the serious business of heaven.”  Scripture is filled with promises of joy for God’s children. The Lord desires for everyone to experience lasting joy in Him– regardless of our circumstances.  Below is a list of scriptures for you to explore the biblical meaning of joy. As you read and meditate on these Bible verses, we pray you know in greater measures that God’s desire for you is to experience true and lasting joy that overflows in your life! 

You make known to me the path of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

-Psalm 16:11 NIV

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

-Romans 15:13 NIV

 

The Lord has done it this very day;

    let us rejoice today and be glad.

-Psalm 118:24 NIV

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;

    sing, all you who are upright in heart!

-Psalm 32:11 NIV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

-Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

-James 1:2-3 NIV

12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

-Romans 12:12 NIV

A cheerful heart is good medicine,

    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

-Proverbs 17:22 NIV

For his anger lasts only a moment,

    but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may stay for the night,

    but rejoicing comes in the morning.

-Psalm 30:5 NIV

Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights.

-Habakkuk 3:17-19 NIV

17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

-Romans 14:17 NIV

22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

-John 16:22 NIV

I delight greatly in the Lord;

    my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

-Isaiah 61:10 NIV

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

-1 Peter 1:8-9 NIV

10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

-Nehemiah 8:10 NIV

When anxiety was great within me,

    your consolation brought me joy.

-Psalm 94:19 NIV

Take delight in the Lord,

    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

-Psalm 37:4 NIV

The prospect of the righteous is joy,

    but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.

-Proverbs 10:23 NIV

*Looking to become more devoted in your daily life? Want to cultivate the daily habit of Bible-reading and prayer? The Seek First Journal is the perfect amount of space and structure to help you make the most of your time seeking the Lord. Learn more and order yours, here.