Joy is a word seen frequently during the Christmas season–on cards, ornaments and even fence gates.
But holiday-pleasure based on Santa, gifting, and parties, quickly disappears with the decorations and Christmas cookies.
Where do we find January-Joy that will carry us through the new year and even beyond?
First, we have to understand: true joy is more than feel-good endorphins.
To some that sounds ridiculous. Acquiescence sounds like distasteful servitude. And what possible delight can a person find in Someone we can’t see or hear?
Little do they know the depth of joy Jesus offers us (John 15:11).
We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex
and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child
who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot
imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea.
—C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
Little do many people understand:
This deep sea of joy is made available to us as we obey God–another reality that makes some bristle. They don’t realize when Christ tells us to follow God’s ways, he’s not trying to make our lives miserable. He’s showing us the way to enjoy abundance of life (John 15:9-11; John 10:10)!
Anything God commands of us is so that our joy may be full.
—Beth Moore, quoted in Values for Life
Scripture presents a number of principles that contribute to our fullness of joy, including:
POSITIVITY (Philippians 4:4)
GRATITUDE (Psalm 126:3)
It’s not happiness that makes us grateful,
it’s gratefulness that makes us happy.
–Brother David Steindl-Rast
We just have to turn up our joy detectors,
notice, and give credit to the God who provided them.
—Deana Chadwell, When I’m in His Presence
MINDFULNESS (Psalm 89:15-16)
(How else might we make space for joy? That’s a question worth contemplating!)
GENEROSITY OF JOY (Acts 20:35)
In spreading my joy, God restored ME. MY JOY WAS FULL! . . .
As we pour out ourselves for others, we ourselves are renewed.
—Barbara Johnson, Pack Up Your Gloomies in a Great Big Box
Also worth remembering:
Empathy (Romans 12:15a)
Joy happens as we enter into the joys of others. The meek get
the most value out of others because they enter in the joys
of others. Not being envious, they rejoice in the successes of
others. Thus they live expansively, multiplying their own lives
in the careers around them.
—Ralph W. Sockman, The Higher Happiness
And what happens to those who focus on all things beautiful, good, and true—no matter how small—and thank God for them?
What happens to those who discover the joys of the here and now—no matter their circumstances–and praise God for them?
“They are the change agents who bring fullest Light [and JOY] to all the world.”*
JOY to the world! For January–beyond.
Now there’s an objective to embrace for 2025.
* Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts, 58.
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I love your focus on January joy! What a delightful sense of hopefulness we have waiting for us in the arms of Jesus. I deeply appreciate the quotes you shared, especially the one by Brother David Steindl-Rast: “It’s not happiness that makes us grateful, it’s gratefulness that makes us happy.” In our broken world we do so many things backwards! You’re absolutely correct–we need to make space for joy, not cramming our lives full of things to do and stuff to accumulate. We miss out on the beauty of just being in His presence. Thanks for this, Nancy.
You’re most welcome, Dayle. I enjoyed culling these quotes from various sources, including my own journals. And then weaving them together into a post turned out to be a delightful process as God helped me organize and compose. I’m so glad you agree, making space for joy is a worthy pursuit going forward!
Your positivity is refreshing, Nancy. The quotes you’ve selected for your “JOY” post are very uplifting, especially Brother David Steindl-Rast’s and Ralph W. Sockman’s. And yes, joy is contagious, so keep on smiling! 🙂
I’m so glad you found uplift here, Nancy. JOY is worth embracing, given all its benefits. May you and your family enJOY a blessed new year!
I loved the quotes, Nancy, especially the one about joy coming from gratitude, not the other way around.
I used to feel gloomy in January, but now I find it a welcome time of rest and renewal. Once the festivities of the holidays are finished and the trappings all put away, it’s easier for a distractable person like me to focus on the things that are really important, such as being conscious of the presence of God. ❤
I love your attitude of rest and renewal for January, Annie. Those are indeed worthy attitudes to foster after the bustle of the holidays. I just wrote those two words on a Post-It and put it in my journal to help me embrace those attitudes as well! Thank you!
May you have a JOYFUL 2025 as you walk with God.
Thank you, Linda. I pray JOY for you also, my friend!
Definitely a fantastic goal we can all have for 2025, Nancy. May we all find and share as we journey with Jesus’ love and God’s infinite grace. Such wonderful quotes, too. I’ve always loved the one by C. S. Lewis. 🙂
C. S. Lewis provided a number of noteworthy quotes, didn’t he? I love that one too. I pray JOY for you in 2025, Martha!
Happy new year!
Thank you, Debi Sue. I pray a year of JOY for you and your family as well!
We thank God for ‘things’ but they satisfy just for a moment. What Jesus gives is what causes us to smile when it makes no sense. The calm that bathes us when the storms are raging. The hope that guides us through the uncertainties that come with life.
Amen, my friend! Christ lavishes us with many gifts, and you’ve started the list with some precious ones! May 2025 be a year of JOY for you and your family, RH.
I pray the same for you, Nancy.
Beautiful and uplifting post!!! Wishing you blessings in this New Year 2025!!! 🙂
Thank you Linda. I pray that you also enjoy a blessed New Year!
I love all the quotes especially the C.S. Lewis. I want to live a joy-filled life and not allow circumstances to steal it!
Happy January!
I love that quote also. What an impactful image Lewis created! Together lets soak up the joy wherever we find it, Pam–in 2025 and beyond!
wonderful quote full of wisdom!!
Thank you, Jean! Perhaps I even included a few quotes that you don’t have in your collection yet! May 2025 be full of JOY for you and your family, my friend!
Joy is contagious! Thank you for some great joy-fuel and for spreading it!! Happy New Year, Nancy!
You’re welcome, Wynne. Indeed, may the joy of Christ fill our spirits and overflow onto those around us. That alone will contribute to a happy new year, I think!
Love the quotes you shared here, Nancy. May you have a joyful 2025.
I’m so glad you loved the quotes, Manu. I’m a quote collector from way back. I even have a quote about quote-collecting! “Most collectors collect tangibles. As a quote collector, I collect wisdom, life, invisible beauty, soul alive in ink”–Terry Guillemets. She covers well the meaningful benefits of the pursuit!
Such a good post for the new year. We can have Joy in any circumstance when we have Jesus. The Joy of the Lord is our strenght 🙂
Amen, Matt! I have to be honest, there’ve been challenging times in my life when joy wore thin. During those episodes, God was giving me practice to find joy where I’d missed it before: in creation, within the family, in supportive friendships, in scripture and quiet time with Him, in music, in unexpected blessings, and more. The joy of the Lord did become my strength! (Remind me of that, Matt, when some new challenge presents itself!)
This post reminded me of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, where Jonathan found joy is flying fast, showing off, winning, etc. In fact, he didn’t realize true joy and understanding until he began humbly serving others. I find new messages (and parallels with our walk with Jesus) every time I read that book.
How many people, do you suppose, have tried fast living, feeding their pride, and striving to be #1, only to discover it’s all meaningless (Ecclesiastes 1:2)? What they really need–what we ALL need–is Jesus! He is the only One who can fill the emptiness inside (John 14:6).
I’ve read several Facebook posts this month that read: “The whole month of January is just one giant Monday!” Your post certainly contradicts that negative statement, and rightly so!
I pray that 2025 sees an improvement in my positivity so that I can become a better carrier of JOY. After all, no one will be attracted to finding Christ through me if I reflect anxiousness and negativity instead of the joy Christ provides.
Great quotations, Nancy. They have inspired me.
I believe God uses those who are hurting but hopeful! No one can be a cloud-nine Christian all the time. But when grieving, disheartened, or suffering believers can say with the Apostle Paul, “Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17 MSG). I know you are the kind of person who can affirm that stance! (And please remind me of this attitude when difficulties come my way!)
Embracing 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 reflects the best attitude in dealing with discouraging events. Thanks for this reminder!
I particularly love Eugene Peterson’s phrase, “unfolding grace.” It IS a daily occurrence, praise God!
That’s my prayer or 2025. To be full of God’s joy so that I spread the “disease” to everyone I come in contact with.
Hurray for the joy-carriers, Barb!
Thank you, Nancy, for this reminder about where true Joy comes from. May your 2025 bring you the deepest Joy you have ever experienced!
Thank you for your heartening blessing, Stacey. I’m thinking that, as we grow in our relationship with the Source of joy (John 15:11), our joy just naturally grows as well. Such a delightful truth!
Nancy,
Enjoy joy all year long. We all need to know this world can’t produce it or make it even possible. But joy to the world, the Lord has come. In Christ, Gary
Gary Avants Forbear Productions * *garyavants66@gmail.com garyavants66@gmail.com
Amen, Gary! I can’t imagine navigating life without the joy of the Lord as my strength (Nehemiah 8:10c).
God’s joy goes so much deeper than the surface “joy” of this sad world. I love how you presented the source of our joy. Amen to all you said, Nancy!
Thank you, Patty. I pray your days are filled with joy, precious friend, in spite of the challenges you face.
An exuberant exhortation that it gives me great joy to take in, Nancy, through this delightful and encouraging meditation. Thank you.
Thank YOU, Dora, for your kind words! I’m so glad you found delight and encouragement here.
Thanks, Nancy, for spreading the JOY of Jesus’ presence, into January and every day of the year! May we be contagious!
Yes indeed, Lynn–let’s be contagious!