Joy Beyond Words | Qualities of Women Who Trust Jesus

“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.” — 1 Peter 1:8-9

Emotional complexity saturates our lives. Think of that moment when you’re at the top of a roller coaster and not quite sure if you’re screaming out of exhilaration or terror. Getting married and starting a family is similar. Whether you’re waiting for the wedding day, labor to begin, an adoption to be finalized, or a foster care placement to go through, the range of emotions is wild.

Mixed with a million little fears is an overwhelming joy that accompanies the expansion of a family. When you know the landscape of your household is about to change with the addition of another human, anticipation builds and joy overflows. You know it’s coming, the uniting of your life with another, and it’s super exciting. Who cares if you’re sick as a dog, you burned yourself with the hair straightener and it’s pouring rain outside— nothing’s gonna steal your joy.

This is the sentiment that the author captures in 1 Peter 1. Early in the chapter, he faces the facts head on that life is full of struggle. He gets real with his audience. If Peter were talking to us today, maybe he’d say it like this:

Hey guys, let’s not ignore it: you’ve never seen Jesus with your own eyes. It’s not like you can go see Him face to face right now if you wanted to. I know you believe in Him and love Him, but you’re in a waiting period. A holding pattern. Don’t be discouraged, though, because He’s coming back! The grace you’ll experience when He reveals Himself will be off the charts. Get excited. Don’t let the difficulties of the wait drag you down. True joy— the kind that goes beyond words— is yours! Why? Because the salvation of your souls is guaranteed and the unity you’ll experience with Jesus in eternity will be worth the wait.

The type of joy Peter talks about here exceeds verbal expression. It’s a joy beyond words. It affects our emotions, for sure, but it goes much deeper too. It’s a sustaining force that carries us through difficult terrain and will one day deliver us into the arms of Jesus. It fuels us as we wait. There are moments in this life when, by the grace of God, we catch a glimpse of what it will be like in His presence, and we find our souls full to the brim and overflowing. Imagine how much greater this inexpressible and glorious joy will be when we actually see Him face to face.

My prayer for you today, Sister, is that anticipation will build in your heart. It’s coming—it’s actually coming— the uniting of your life with Jesus; the salvation of your soul; the fulfillment of everything your insides long for.

May God’s Spirit stir our hearts as we think of what lies ahead for us. For a little while we’ll suffer all kinds of grief (1 Peter 1:6)— from dogs puking up socks to traumatic loss. But we can trust that there’s purpose in the hard things and that one day, suffering will be silenced for good. This is the promise we hold onto, and because He who promised it is faithful, we can rejoice in the face of suffering (1 Peter 1).

The best part is that because God’s Spirit is transforming us from the inside out, we don’t just feel joy, we become joyful. In Him, we are JOYFUL!

For Your Journal

Find It:

In this portion of your journal, write out a Bible verse. You can find a verse that fits a current life situation or use the one we used in today’s devotion.

“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.” — 1 Peter 1:8-9

Fix It:

In this portion of your journal, pull out a few key words from the verse you chose above, or summarize the verse in your own words. Write it in pretty lettering or sketch something that will help you visualize the meaning of the verse and fix it in your mind. Repeat these words to yourself throughout the week to remind you of the truth contained in the scripture. Here are some options:

Love + Faith = JOY

Joy Beyond Words

Feel It:

In this portion of your journal, write out a prayer. The goal is to absorb the meaning of the Bible passage and let it take root in your heart. Ask the Lord to let his word change you by the power of his Spirit. Surrender any areas of your life that you are trying to control.

Dear Jesus, my emotions are all over the place— they swing with the ups and downs of my day. Let your joy be a sustaining force in my life. Even though I can’t see you face to face right now, I believe that one day I will, and that brings joy to my heart. I love you, Lord, and I want to live the joyful life your word promises to me. Remind me that hard things have a purpose. Nothing is wasted. Remind me that one day all the hard things will be over and I’ll experience joy beyond words to the full! May true joy put a smile on my face that impacts the people around me— even when the dog pukes up a sock. Amen!