5 Reasons Choosing Joy Is a Daily Wellness Practice

Real, lasting joy comes directly from God. Life changes, but God never does. God is always loving and faithful.

Psalm 16:11 says of God: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” 

When you’re close to God, you find the most joy. So, connecting with God through prayer (talking with God), meditation (listening to God), and reading God’s Word, the Bible, is essential. Build prayer and meditation habits you enjoy. You can see how communicating with God is a valuable opportunity to look forward to (not an obligation you do out of a sense of responsibility). The more you experience enjoyable prayer and meditation, the more you’ll be motivated to communicate with God often and build a close relationship with him, bringing lots of joy into your life! 

Reading the Bible also connects you to God’s truth and promises. The more you focus on what God’s Word tells you, the more you can be inspired to move closer to God, where you can experience more joy. Thinking about Bible verses showing how God keeps his promises changes your thinking, replacing fear with hope and joy. 

Jesus says in John 15:11 that he has told you about his love: “... so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” Jesus’ joy becomes yours when you stay connected to him in loving relationships. Set aside some time each day or night to pray, meditate, and read a brief passage from the Bible (including some Bible verses about joy, when possible). As you do, you can ask God to help you understand what you read and live it out. Daily, staying connected to God – the source of joy –enables you to enjoy wellness in all situations.

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A compelling way to grow joy in your hearts is to practice being thankful on purpose. Practicing gratitude opens your eyes to the blessings God constantly pours into your lives. It’s easy to take everyday blessings like a good meal or a good song on the radio. But when you stop and thank God for these gifts, your perspective expands, and joy grows in you. 

Being thankful fights off thoughts that steal your joy, like focusing on what you wish you had but don’t, or comparing yourself to others. But when you choose to count your blessings and thank God for them, you remember how faithful God is and feel joy. 

The Bible encourages you in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 

Giving thanks in every situation involves trusting and thanking God even during hard times, because you know God is good and in control. God wants you to be thankful because he knows it helps you depend on him, which builds a joyful spirit as you notice how he generously provides for all your needs. 

You can keep a simple list of three blessings you’re thankful for each day, and then pray at bedtime each night to thank God for those highlights from your latest blessings. You can also get in the habit of thanking God silently or out loud whenever you notice something good God has given you. It’s also helpful to regularly thank the people who do something you appreciate. Making gratitude a habit trains your mind to look for the good, making it natural for you to experience more joy and wellness.

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Feeling awe is a shortcut to joy. So, pay attention to the wonder of God’s work in your daily life. 

Psalm 92:4 celebrates how God’s incredible work can bring you joy: “For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.” 

The more you notice God’s wonder around you and celebrate it, the more joy you can experience, because awe–like gratitude also expands your perspective. You can look beyond your problems to see what’s good when inspired by awe from encountering God’s handiwork. 

Looking at your life through the lens of wonder will give you a joyful mindset. So, take advantage of all your opportunities to discover and enjoy God’s wonder. You can find it easily in nature, because creation reveals the Creator’s inspiring qualities. Take a walk in the woods, listen to birds singing, stargaze at night, and do whatever you enjoy outdoors. Enjoy God’s wonder in other everyday miracles, such as learning something new and inspiring with a friend, or feeling God’s love as you play with your children and pets. Try to be fully present as much as possible each day. 

Put your phone away to eliminate distractions when you can, and really notice what’s around you using your senses. Look for extraordinary beauty in ordinary places. Think about times you knew God helped you or answered one of your prayers. As you notice God’s wonder, you’ll feel joy and strengthen your wellness in the process.

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You often find more joy for yourself when you focus on helping others. When you’re wrapped up in your problems, it’s easy to feel discouraged. But when you look for ways to encourage or serve the people around you, something amazing happens – you often feel more joyful yourself! 

Mark 10:45 reveals that Jesus “… did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 

Following Jesus’ example makes you feel fulfilled by living out your faith. Helping others reminds you that you’re part of something bigger than yourself and gives your life purpose. Fulfilling your purpose is something that God has designed you to enjoy naturally. 

In Acts 20:35, the Apostle Paul reminded people of Jesus’ words: “... ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” God blesses you with joy when you give your time, energy, and kindness to help someone else. Every day, God will bring you opportunities to help others, such as listening to a sad friend, bringing food to someone sick, volunteering at church or another community organization, or just giving someone a warm smile. 

Philippians 2:3-4 encourages you to “… in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Thinking about others first helps push away self-pity and allows you to experience more joy. So, ask God to show you how to help someone this week. Look for needs in your church, neighborhood, or workplace. Try doing acts of kindness each day. You'll find joy and boost your wellness when you serve (even if you don’t feel like it at first).

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The most challenging time is choosing joy during hard times. It can feel wrong to be joyful when you feel so much pain. But you can really be joyful in difficult times, because God will give you the joy you need while you go through challenges. 

Not only that, but Romans 8:28 reveals that God brings good out of even bad situations: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” 

The confidence God gives you during hard times that he will work out something good for you, no matter what, helps you experience joy. God himself is the source of both your confidence and your joy, since they both come from connecting with God’s presence with you. Knowing that God is using your temporary suffering to help you develop lasting holiness and stronger faith can also help you experience joy in hard times. 

James 1:2-4 points out: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” 

You can be both joyful and sad simultaneously, because your real hope isn’t in having an easy life now, but in God’s incredible love for you, which is always there for you to enjoy. Keeping eternity in mind can help you be joyful, as well. Jesus faced the terrible suffering of the cross “for the joy set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). That joy was knowing he was doing his Father’s will. Jesus’ example shows that you can still choose joy even in the most challenging situations and can give you the strength to get through anything. 

So, be honest with God about your pain; don’t hide it. Hold on to God’s promises in the Bible, and ask other believers to pray for you and encourage you. See how God might use this hard time to help you grow spiritually. Choosing joy in hard times is tough but will help you build stronger faith and wellness.  

Choosing joy is a healthy habit to maintain strong spiritual and emotional wellness. No matter your challenges, you can build a strong, God-given joy that will be a constant source of strength. So, decide to choose joy day by day. You’ll find that choosing joy is an excellent wellness practice that makes your life richer and brings glory to God.

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