8 Bible Verses About Joy and an Invitation to Encounter God
A fresh blanket of snow found us in the early hours before dawn today. I walked to the window and got lost in the purity of the wild world, and in the process, a spark was ignited in my soul. It felt like a fresh outpouring of joy—joy I’ve been craving for far too long. I pulled out my Bible in search of inspiring Bible verses about joy and started soaking in the words.
Many of us look to the long winter season ahead, and we could use a fresh outpouring of joy. Let’s turn to God’s Word and soak in these truths about the joy of the Lord today. I also invite you to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook for greater joy in God’s presence.
Bible Verses About Joy
1. We bring God great joy.
The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
2. God’s joy consoles our anxious souls.
When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.
Psalm 94:14
3. God wants to fill us with the joy of salvation.
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, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9
Bible Verses About Joy in Weakness
4. We can rejoice in our weaknesses.
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10
5. God loves it when we give joyfully.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7
6. God’s Word brings joy.
Your statutes are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart.
Psalm 119:111
7. God’s joy is our strength.
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
8. We can find joy in suffering.
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:3-4
~~~
After soaking in these verses, I reflected on the practices that have filled me with joy throughout the past few years. I was reminded of a mindset that never fails to lead me into the joy of the Lord. I’ve been learning to live with a “sacramental mindset.”
This way of living is breathing life into my dry seasons, helping me connect with Jesus, and expanding my capacity for gratitude. Let me explain.
How to Apply These Bible Verses About Joy With a Sacramental Mindset:
What is a sacramental mindset?
It might help to consider the way you approach the Lord’s Supper. You hold the bread between your fingertips and feel its texture against your skin. You eat it thoughtfully—thanking Jesus for His sacrifice while you chew. When it’s time to take the cup, you are mindful as well. You’re aware of the sour taste of the grapes as you swallow, and you think about Jesus as you mindfully participate in the sacrament.
Imagine what it would be like to carry this same mindset into every realm of your life. Envision slowing your pace to imbibe the warmth of the water as you take a shower. Imagine thoughtfully thanking Jesus for washing your sins away as the water cleanses you. Think of eating your daily meals slowly and thoughtfully—not shoving food into your mouth while you watch TV or scroll through your phone.
Consider what life might be like if all of your daily tasks became opportunities to thoughtfully interact with the physical realm while also communing with Jesus. Cooking, cleaning, driving, walking, grocery shopping, and working might become avenues for encountering Jesus.
Apply These Bible Verses About Joy by Slowing Down
Most of us are so busy hurrying from one event to the next that we rarely slow down to become fully present in our moments. We go through the motions as we muddle through our daily obligations, and we’ve lost our childlike joy. A sacramental mindset restores childlike wonder amid our daily tasks and awakens us to Christ’s presence with us.
Most of us are so busy hurrying from one event to the next that we rarely slow down to become fully present within our moments. #slowliving #slowingdown #joy Share on XUltimately, lasting joy comes from a dynamic relationship with Jesus. Jesus wants to commune with you throughout every activity of your day. You will discover a gateway to joy as you learn to attentively participate in the tasks of your days and commune with Jesus in the process. 
Your Invitation to Connect With God:
Let’s take this idea a step further and ask God to help up choose an activity to complete with a sacramental mindset today. You might pick a meal, a household task, a hobby, a chore, or a repetitive part of your workday.
When the time comes, aim to approach this task slowly and mindfully. Pay attention to textures, smells, and sensations surrounding you as you complete this activity. Refuse to hurry. Talk to Jesus and keep your heart open to him as you go about this task.
You will unlock a pathway for deeper joy in the ordinary.
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
Calling All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
A Free Devotional to Help You Connect With God
God is a good Father, and he wants us to experience his healing, deliverance, and replenishment. Most of us have learned that we cannot heal, deliver, or refresh ourselves; we need God to do this work within us. I invite you to create space for God to transform your life by downloading a free copy of my devotional eBook, The Lean Into Grace Devotional: An 8-Day Devotional for Healing, Deliverance, and Replenishment. Find it for free here. 
