You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

Psalm 4:7

The content of Christian joy is never placed in material possessions or temporal prosperity. Rather, it is always placed in the firm foundation of God’s character to us in Jesus. 

Notice the contrast in this verse: while grain and wine abound for those who do not know God, David, without those things, still has more joy than them. It must be therefore that David’s source of joy is not based on the whimsy securement of physical pleasure, but on who he knows his God to be. Even if he doesn’t have luxury, physical safety, good health, or a good reputation in this life—he has his God, and this is enough. 

Jesus told his disciples in John 16:22 that “no one will take your joy from you.” How could this be true if our joy was based on something that could be gone tomorrow? Jesus is centering our hearts on the eternal. He is grounding our lives—what we worship, what we put our hope in, where we derive satisfaction—in Himself. 

Reader, this world will always leave you gasping for joy. Others can never live up to who you wish they were. You will never be all you desire to be. The world is in turmoil, there are forces outside your control—like sickness, suffering and sorrow—which daily intrude your self-contrived plans for the “good life.” When this happens, the first temptation is to narrow your focus on yourself and say “why me?” Somehow, we convince ourselves we are entitled to a life without trouble. But what if true joy can be had even with these things?

Get this: David had much to lack in this verse, but he still had more joy. So when our lives seemingly lack in whatever area we wish they wouldn’t, we must turn our gaze to what we have in God. The reason why David was satisfied is because he knew that God’s love for him was never-ceasing. As those in Christ, we know that God is for us, with us, and working all things together for our good. He knows what is best for us, so when unexpected trials and sufferings come, we are reminded by James to “count it all joy…when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (Jas 1:2-3). Indeed, we are able to count our trials and sufferings as joy because we know that God, in His infinite wisdom, love and sovereignty, is able to use them for our good. And our ultimate good is to be made more like Jesus. 

So when Jesus tells you that “no one will take your joy from you,” this is only possible if the entirety of your being is focused on Jesus Himself. For He—as the loving, tender, good Shepherd—never changes. And if He never changes, then your joy is secure. Not that your life will be free from trouble, or that you’ll never be sad, but that you can always have joy. 

And often that perspective is what makes all the difference.