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“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Romans 5:6-11

How do I find joy?

The world tells you there are many places to find joy.  

Just google it, and over 1 billion results will pop up on your device. If you click on the top sites, you will find list after list of things you can do to try and find the joy you are looking for. Just a few examples:

  • 11 simple ways to find joy in your everyday life (success.com)
  • Exactly how to find joy today – 13 simple ideas (oprahdaily.com)
  • 100 small things that can bring joy (wisebread.com)

Live this way, and you will find joy. Add this, subtract this, do these things, and you will find joy.

While attempting to be helpful, all these lists make joy about the things you need to try and do. 

The Bible gives a far different approach. In fact, the Word of God offers to set you free from all the lists. The Bible invites us to look and see what has already been done so that we can receive and experience true joy.

Today’s scripture reference is a great reminder of our standing with God due to what Jesus has done on the cross. Specifically, look at verses 10 and 11, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

This is the invitation to true joy. We rejoice (literally show our joy) because we are reconciled.

In other words, listen to what Pastor Timothy Keller says, “Do you realize that it is only in the Gospel of Jesus Christ that you get the verdict before the performance? The trial is over because Jesus Christ went on trial instead of us. He went into the courtroom. He took the condemnation we deserve, so I simply need to ask God to accept me because of what the Lord Jesus has done.”

There are many things in this life that can give us happiness or even a taste of joy. Relationships. Nature. A fun hobby. An honest day’s work. But nothing can give you long-lasting joy like the freedom that is found in the completed work of Jesus. 

God loves you. He knows you. And He is working in you.

So, before you do a google search on where to find joy, remember that the results are already in! All we need is found in Christ.

Have you searched and found all that you need in Him?