Article July 27, 1987 Issue

Joy—it's yours!

Despite the advertisements, joy is not really contingent on money, success, or other material factors.

Dorothy A. J. Woodruff

The "world," generally speaking, has sought joy in every way but the way Christ Jesus taught. Joy is sought in money, social success, clothes, food, trivial amusement, and so on. Yet joy is not something you have to go somewhere to get. You don't have to depend on someone else for it. You don't even have to generate it. It's within you and is your birthright as God's beloved offspring, even when sometimes it seems buried out of sight.

Joy and peace of mind are companions—they go together. It is natural to be joyous and at peace, and unnatural not to be.

Christ Jesus, our Way-shower and Teacher, said, "Your joy no man taketh from you."^{John 16:22.} He also told his disciples: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."^{John 14:27.}