We live in a world where our joy is tested every single day. In the era of social media, where we’re part of the lives of celebrities, influencers, neighbours and friends, we are often tempted to covet what belongs to others as we compare our lives with picture-perfect posts. We see people get their dream jobs, have the perfect wedding proposal and celebrate beautifully curated baby showers.
Even as a believer, I’ve at times believed the lie that a joy-filled life consists of perfect posts, like the Pinterest-inspired get-ready-with-me vlogs, to the morning coffee cup post with a popular verse caption.
I find myself wrestling with comparison and covetousness.
On most days, I genuinely feel happy for others. But there are days when I look around and find myself wrestling with comparison and covetousness—with idolatry (Colossians 3:5). The question I have been asking myself lately is this: What is joy? And what does God say about joy? When we turn to God’s word, we see that joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). As such, it’s a sign that God dwells within us, working within us (John 14:23).
Besieged Joy
Joy is more than a fleeting emotion. Paul made this much clear when he wrote, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness” (Galatians 5:22). If we’re honest, our joy often feels like it’s under attack. That’s because it is.
The Bible tells us that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10); and in Ephesians 6, Paul makes us aware that we are living in a spiritual battlefield. We are reminded that we are in a war not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of darkness (Ephesians 6:11-12). And one of the enemy’s key targets is our joy.
The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
Joy is evidence that God is present and active in our lives (John 15:11). When we delight in God, we rejoice in our salvation (Psalm 51:12), we gain strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and we resist the pull of sin as we behold God in all his glory and goodness (Psalm 16:11). The enemy knows that if he can rob us of joy, he can weaken our witness, dull our worship, and distract us with lesser pleasures. That’s why he uses every tactic from comparison, distraction, and even condemnation to erode our joy.
So be encouraged, defend your joy by putting on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness (Ephesians 6:11–12).
The Joy Thief
One of the sneakiest strategies the enemy uses is comparison. It is subtle, unseen, and often hard to detect. It’s easier than ever to look at someone else’s life and feel like ours doesn’t measure up. However, God calls us to look to his word to detect these lies and expose them. James 1:17 reminds us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” In other words, what we have is sufficient, because it came from our heavenly Father who gives intentionally and perfectly orchestrates all things for our good.
Christian joy begins when we stop looking around and start looking upward.
Psalm 73 beautifully illustrates this struggle. The psalmist is overwhelmed with envy when he sees the wicked prosper. But in Psalm 73:17, everything shifts. “I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.” His perspective is transformed in God’s presence. By the end, he confesses, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25). Christian joy begins when we stop looking around and start looking upward, keeping our eyes and hearts focused on the things above (Colossians 3:2).
Delight in God
If you are on a quest for joy, look no further. The kind of joy that is full, deep, and without limit is found in God alone. Psalm 16:11 says it plainly. “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Joy doesn’t come from perfect circumstances or a curated life. It comes from God’s presence.
Joy doesn’t come from perfect circumstances or a curated life.
Even when we face trials of various kinds, we are encouraged to count it all joy, for it produces steadfastness (James 1:2–3). Our joy in God increases as we make time for God and the things of God—anchoring ourselves in his word, worshipping him in all seasons and remaining obedient to him. And when joy increases, so does our reliance and strength in the Lord.
Fight for Your Joy
So, how do we defend our joy amid daily distractions and spiritual warfare? By using scripture-rooted strategies.
- Being anchored in God’s word, we find clarity in God’s truth. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Hiding the word in your heart guards your joy from being stolen by the lies of the enemy.
- As you fight, fill your life with thanksgiving and gratitude, giving thanks to God who is the giver of life, breath and everything. Thanksgiving is often what unlocks joy as we focus on the joy-giver, who is God.
- Pursue God, not the world’s pleasures. Psalm 90:14 says, “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” Don’t chase the world for satisfaction.
Joy is worth defending, so don’t go into battle unarmed.
The pursuit of God is the pursuit of joy, and the pursuit of joy is ultimately the pursuit of God. So let us be intentional and put on the armour of God daily. The word of God is our weapon against all counterfeit joys, and our faith in God is our defence (Ephesians 6:17). Joy is worth defending, so don’t go into battle unarmed.
