Finding Joy in Christ

Today, we hear so much about “what makes you happy.” The world pushes on us that what makes us feel good is good. We are told that we are meant to be happy and that we should do anything to obtain that happiness. So, we pursue anything to fill the void in our hearts. Hoping to find comfort, we fill ourselves with entertainment, frivolous pleasure, and unprofitable relationships.

I certainly have felt that inclination myself. Many times, I have chased things of no value for momentary pleasure or satisfaction. However, nothing I tried ever seemed to fill that hole. It is like when you get a new toy for Christmas and adore it, but you are sick of it by the following week. Our hearts are the same way.

1 John 2:16-17 expresses, “ For all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life, is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

The things of this earth do not satisfy. They are passing away. Who lasts forever? Jesus does. If Jesus is eternal, should we not find our joy in Him? I have noted that when I find my joy in Christ, I am content.

Finding joy in the Lord is a pretty vague idea, so let’s see what Jesus says about it to bring some clarity. Psalm 28:7 “…In [The Lord] my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults; and with my song I give thanks to Him.” David wrote this psalm, and in it, he says that he trusts the Lord. David loved the Lord, and this is seen in many of the psalms he wrote. Based on this psalm, I believe that to have joy in the Lord, one need to trust Him.

Ultimately, a big part of trusting Him is trusting Him with what you value or want the most. For me, that has looked like trusting Him with my circumstances. I find so much earthly satisfaction in what is going on in my life. I feel momentarily at peace when I get to do exciting things, like a TeenPact event! However, those things are never guaranteed. In fact, even TeenPact events were canceled last year. Nothing on earth is secure.

If finding joy starts with trusting Him, what are some practical steps towards trusting and finding joy in Him?

1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

I ask the Lord to help me be content no matter what is happening because I know God’s will. An example of when I had to practice contentment was during quarantine. I struggled during that time with disappointment, bitterness, and confusion. It took a while, but God used that time to help teach me how to put my dependence on Him.

To wrap up, the things of this earth are momentary. We need to put our joy in Christ by trusting Him and surrendering what matters most. People will fail us, circumstances will fail us, we will fail ourselves, but Christ will never fail us. He is the only one who can fill the void in our hearts.

Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views of TeenPact Leadership Schools. To learn more about our Vision & Values, please visit teenpact.com/vision-values/.