Joy (in God) – Quick Topical Study

I was watching the DVD version of John Piper’s “When I Don’t Desire God: How to Fight for Joy” and below are a few of the verses mentioned (and a couple of extras also).  True joy, ultimate joy, eternal joy is only found in one place: in God.  Since we are sinful creatures and evil and suffering are realities, that quest can also be characterized as a fight.

Perhaps it will be helpful to you, as it was to me, to meditate on the them.

(All from the ESV)

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Matthew 13:44

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:11

Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you.
Deuteronomy 28:47-48

..for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
2 Corinthians 8:2

Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4

..but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
2 Corinthians 6:4-10