There is a common belief in Christianity today that says you can feel joy without feeling emotions like happiness. Often it is presented as if Christianity is not meant to emotional and that being a faithful Christian often results in a life that something less than the abundant life Jesus promised.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10, ESV)

This idea is rooted in a misunderstanding of the nature of joy, spiritualizing it, and suggesting its independence from pleasure or emotions like love. If we look at Galatians 5:22-23 we get a different picture of abundant, joy filled life Jesus promises.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)

              Note how joy is listed alongside of emotions like peace, patience, kindness, and especially the greatest of these which is love (1 Cor. 13:13). This invites us to reconsider the emotional dimensions of joy. It should be clear that joy involves feelings of affection, contentment, and satisfaction. The compellingly argues that to love someone or to experience peace undoubtedly evokes strong emotional responses, challenging the idea that joy could be any different.

              When we consider that God’s own happiness is foundational to understanding how we should understand and experience joy it adds even more weight to emotional aspect of joy. Passages like Psalm 16:11 and Matthew 3:17 illustrate that joy and happiness are present in God’s character and by extension, should be in our as well. These references serve to debunk the misconception that joy is an unemotional state, instead positing that God’s interactions and expressions of pleasure towards His creation inherently involve emotions.

              Hopefully, this forces us to consider the reality that while it’s possible to serve and obey the Lord without feeling joy, it falls far short of the fullness of being known by our love for God and for our neighbor (Matt. 22:38-40). The Lord wants more than mindless, emotionless, obedience. When you consider Deuteronomy 28:47-48 and Philippians 4:4, it’s clear that our Lord wants us to rejoice, to serve Him because it makes life better. The implication is that God prefers to bless His children and to have them respond with hearts in joyful obedience. The emotional life of the Christ is meant to be the good.

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”

(Psalm 34:8)

Let’s recognize the true emotional satisfaction that stems from knowing, loving, and following our Lord Jesus Christ.