Joy is a by-product of our relationship with God, whether we worship God or not. When God blesses us, not only with good things\times, but also with the ability to weather through the hard times with a persevering grin on our face, this is joy. When we are humbled & loved by our family & friends, when we get the job or raise that we deserve, when the girl says "yes" to spending the rest of our lives together, regardless of our imperfections and insecurities... This is all God, blessing us with all of these things. You don't have to believe in Him to make this happen - He makes it happen anyways.

But what I want to cover is the joy we earnestly need to have when we're under trial. When we are getting hit left & right with the world's issues or concerns... when we start thinking more about ourselves than of God.

Paul was the greatest person written about in the New Testament (outside of Jesus). This man was the epitome of a human leader who truly appreciated, and preached about God's Kingdom. So it's no stretch that he would pen such words. But what some of us may have forgotten:

Now, I don't know about you but most of these items would affect me negatively. And yet, Paul's focus was upon Him who supplies and strengthens us to persevere.

Why? How? What am I (either) missing or doing wrong?

Jesus teaches us that our struggles here on earth, compounds interest in heaven. (Try to remember that then next time we find ourselves struggling).

We also need to remember where joy comes from - And it doesn't come from our own efforts, imagination or family upbringing. "The fruit of the Spirit is... joy" (Gal 5:22"

Joy also comes from belonging to the kingdom of God.

Joy also comes from the faith in believing in God.

It also comes from seeing & knowing that Jesus is Lord.