What is joy in the Bible?

Joy (Greek: chara) is one of the nine fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. Joy is a deep gladness rooted in God, not in circumstances. It can sit alongside sadness, because it rests on who God is rather than on how the day is going.

What joy looks like

• Noticing and naming good gifts
• Celebrating other people's wins
• Hope that holds in hard seasons

Counterfeit: Forced cheerfulness, or chasing the next high.

Opposite: Cynicism, envy and constant complaining.

15 Bible verses about joy

Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!”

Philippians 4:4 (WEB)

Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today is holy to our Lord. Don’t be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10 (WEB)

You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.

Psalm 16:11 (WEB)

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 (WEB)

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations,

James 1:2 (WEB)

This is the day that Yahweh has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!

Psalm 118:24 (WEB)

I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.

John 15:11 (WEB)

Always rejoice.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 (WEB)

For his anger is but for a moment. His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:5 (WEB)

Yahweh has done great things for us, and we are glad.

Psalm 126:3 (WEB)

yet I will rejoice in Yahweh. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

Habakkuk 3:18 (WEB)

Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

John 16:22 (WEB)

whom, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory,

1 Peter 1:8 (WEB)

But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice. Let them always shout for joy, because you defend them. Let them also who love your name be joyful in you.

Psalm 5:11 (WEB)

I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

Luke 15:7 (WEB)

3 ways to practise joy today

• Joy is noticed: Add three specific moments of gladness to your jar today. Be concrete: not "family", but "Ana's laugh at breakfast".
• Joy in the ordinary: Add one gladness from a boring part of your day: a commute, a chore, a queue.
• Joy for someone else: Add something good that happened to someone else, and tell them you're glad.

In the Ninefruit app, the joy journey has five stages and its own tool, Gladness Jar: Drop in small, specific moments of gladness. On a heavy day, shake the jar and reread one.

A prayer for joy

Father, open my eyes to Your gifts today, and fill me with Your joy.

Is joy your strongest fruit, or your growing one? Take the free test.