The Bible identifies different sources of joy. There is the joy of procreation. “A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.” John 16:21 NKJV. There is another joy associated with good economic fortune. This is called the joy of harvest. Related to that is the joy of sharing the spoils of war. “You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.” Isaiah 9:3 NKJV

believers should rejoice in hope…Knowing that Jesus will return to make everything right is reason enough for continuous joy.

If these are the only grounds, believers’ joy will be curtailed and far between. This is because both harvest and booties of war do not come daily. Also, it is not everyday we share in the booties of war. Believers can indeed fall on bad times. At such moments, rejoicing will not be spontaneous. There must be stronger reasons for rejoicing than material things. The joy of God’s children should stem from knowing that their sins are forgiven and they are at peace with Him. Additionally, believers should rejoice in hope. In other words, believers should look beyond any present adverse condition and see the hope reserved for them in heaven. Knowing that Jesus will return to make everything right is reason enough for continuous joy.