EVERYTHING WE NEED: Inexpressible Joy

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (I Peter 1:8-9 NIV). The KJV uses the words, “unspeakable joy.” Both phrases convey a feeling that is indescribable, unexplainable and beyond human efforts of understanding. It is more than just feeling happy. This joy is deep and abiding.

There are times when we do not feel that inexpressible joy. We read our Bibles, attend worship services and enjoy fellowship with other believers. We may even teach a class or serve in other capacities. Still, that “inexpressible and glorious joy” we long for seems to evade us and we are left with a feeling of emptiness.

It happens. Life gets in our way, causing us to experience feelings of sorrow, distress, depression or even fear. Feelings are not reliable. They can change from one moment to another, but “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Heb. 13:8). He never changes.

In I Peter 1:1-12, Peter is addressing Christians who were scattered throughout various parts of the world — mostly because of persecution. Despite their suffering, however, there was a reason as to why they “greatly rejoiced” (I Peter 1:6). We read about it in verses 3-5: “In his (God’s) great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, andinto an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade… kept in Heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” (I Peter 1:3-5). That is enough reasoning to “greatly rejoice.” Peter further stated that the suffering they endured came so that their faith — “of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (I Peter 1:7). Someone said that when trials come, they are not designed to break us but to make us, revealing the genuineness of our faith.

Those scattered believers had never seen Jesus, but they loved Him and believed in Him. Because of their belief, they were “filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (I Peter 1:8). They were receiving the goal of their faith, the salvation of their souls (I Peter 1:9). We, too, have never seen Jesus, but He is as real to us as if we see Him face-to-face. We love Him. We believe in Him. We have a new birth, and an inheritance kept in Heaven that will never perish, spoil or fade.” (I Peter 1:7). We have every reason to be filled with “inexpressible joy.”

We will not get or maintain that joy if we allow our feelings and circumstances to continuously overwhelm us. God knows and understands what we are going through. He wants us to trust Him and have faith that everything is under His control.

As you dwell upon God’s love, care, protection and salvation, you will experience that unspeakable joy that characterized the early Christians. To top it all off, that joy will give us peace that “transcends all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). The Psalmist stated, “May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful” (Psalm 68:3).

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil. 4:2).