2Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. 3The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. 4Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south. 5They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Israel’s prayer book: songs of trust, lament, thanks and praise, many of them by David.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
What God’s Spirit grows in a person: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Jesus to friends about to grieve: your sorrow is real, I will see you again, and no one will take your joy from you.
Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Gratitude when the harvest fails: even with nothing in the fields, I will rejoice in the God who saves me.
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
You have not seen Jesus, yet you love Him, and trusting Him brings a joy too deep for words.