What is something that never fails to make you feel joyful, no matter how down you might be feeling?

Read James 1:2-3 & Romans 5:1-5

How does the joy and peace described in the Bible differ from the happiness we often hear described in the world?

What does it look like to consider times of difficulty and despair “pure joy,” as James described?

Read Psalm 56:8 & Hebrews 4:15

How does it make you feel to know that God has “kept track of all [your] sorrows?”

How does knowing that Jesus is a high priest who can empathize with us, comfort you in the midst of despair?

Read John 16:33 & 1 Corinthians 15:54-58

What does Jesus mean that he has “overcome” the world? What does it look like for us to take “heart?”

Considering the difficult things of life “pure joy” is not intuitive or easy. We have to take steps to change our perspective and reveal joy in the midst of the hard. What steps can you take to find biblical joy the next time you are in a difficult circumstance (or in your current one)?