“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” -Psalm 100:1-2 Joy in the Lord is not rooted in what we experience day to day, but in His unchanging character. What is joy? It is so much more than an emotion of happiness, one that is founded in Jesus Christ. Therefore we can still have joy even in the valleys of life, for we look to the firm hope and truth of Jesus. A joy rooted in the LORD is so much sweeter than the sways of life. We sing of this joy, an outpouring of delight, not an obligation, but a duty and a privilege to rejoice in Him. This joy is not passive. It is active, expressed, and made known. It lifts our voices, shapes our posture, and directs our lives. It is the response of a heart that knows who God is and what He has done. ‘I’m in love, I cannot remember what I was doing before I met Him. I’ve been captivated by the love He gave me.’ This is the joy we speak of, not distant or abstract, but perso...