Joy is deep stuff. It is different from happiness. Happiness is more superficial and short term; joy is more pervasive and long term.

Christians have a past and future basis for joy that reaches into the present. In the past God sent Jesus to save us, we believed and have had our sins forgiven and have a personal relationship with God. In the future we have a sure hope of eternal life in the presence of God. Salvation and hope are so big and so strong that they anchor us forever and give us an overriding joy that gets us through the ups and downs of current circumstances.

We have a choice to live out our present emotions and relationships on the basis of current circumstances or on the basis of eternal joy. St. Paul is telling us to choose joy—“Be joyful always.”