Have you ever considered that jealousy is a disease of the heart and the spirit? The world around us constantly plays the comparison game, feeding a spirit of envy within us and making us feel like what we have isn’t enough. Scripture tells us that in Jesus, we have more than we could ever need. When our contentment is found in Christ, it leads to a life of joy.

Have you ever known somebody who has gone through unimaginable hardship, yet they exude complete and absolute joy? It’s impossible to be void of joy when we’re walking in the presence of God and living in true relationship with Him. That doesn’t mean we’re free from experiencing sorrow and suffering — it means that no amount of sorrow or suffering can rob us of the joy we receive from Him.

No matter how great our life is here on earth, it can never come close to how good eternity will be with Jesus. It’s more than we can possibly fathom or imagine — which is why we waste so much time chasing after all the things we think will bring us happiness in this temporary world. When we chase after God instead of earthly pleasures, we stop looking around at the things we think will satisfy us, and we start looking forward to forever with our Lord.

You may have endured unspeakable hardships, or done unspeakable things, that make you believe you can’t experience joy in this life. But no matter your past, God offers unspeakable joy, blessing, and promise, in this life and for eternity. Through Jesus, we’re offered abundant hope that lasts not for a moment or a lifetime, but for all time; the only thing standing in our way is our unwillingness to surrender to Him.

Happiness lives on the face — but joy lives in the soul. Jesus promised there would be trials in this life, and we’ve all experienced hard moments where all we want to do is scream. Yet the Bible tells us to change our perspective and to see our troubles as joy, because God also promises to use all things for His good, and He’s faithful to keep His promise.

No matter how great our life is here on earth, it can never come close to how good eternity will be with Jesus. It’s more than we can possibly fathom or imagine — which is why we waste so much time chasing after all the things we think will bring us happiness in this temporary world. When we chase after God instead of earthly pleasures, we stop looking around at the things we think will satisfy us, and we start looking forward to forever with our Lord.

As Americans, we’re well-acquainted with the idea that human beings have the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Yet chasing after those things from a worldly standpoint inevitably leads to death, despair, and slavery to our sin. Only in Jesus will we find abundant life, true freedom, and indescribable joy.

Have you ever picked up a can of soda and tasted it, only to discover it was…flat? Our spirituality becomes like that drink when we lack the kind of genuine faith in the Gospel that characterizes every part of our lives. The “fizz” in our spiritual lives comes from having trust in God and joy in His presence regardless of our circumstances. And when people who don’t know God see that fizz bubbling over into everything that we do, they find themselves attracted to the same kind of contagious faith that we have.

The Bible tells us not to complain about anything, but instead to be joyful in all things. No matter what we’re going through, Scripture teaches us to “cheer” for God in the midst of our own hardship. We show people the change in our own lives when we choose to praise God, no matter our circumstances — and in doing so, we maintain joy.