Can you remember a time or an activity or a place or a person that gave you a feeling of joy? It’s a wonderful feeling, isn’t it? Joy has a way of bringing laughter, peace, contentment, and well-being. Some people seem to have more joy than others. Some of us experience it throughout the day, some once in a while, and others—sadly—rarely. 

For those who experience joy only occasionally or rarely, when times are tough, as they are now, joy may appear more elusive than ever. It may even seem impossible to feel joy. And yet, the fact is that joy is an attribute of God and is as real and permanent, immortal and eternal, as God Himself. And it’s included in everyone’s spiritual makeup as a child of God, for according to Genesis 1:26 and 27, man (each of us) is made in His image and likeness. 

Granted, this concept of joy as permanent and inherent in each of us is a radical departure from how joy is commonly viewed. And when circumstances in one’s life suggest there’s little to be joyful about, it may be very challenging to accept the idea that joy is innate and constant rather than a fleeting emotion that depends on how things are going. But a view of existence as material and filled with ups and downs is not the true view of life. In fact, it’s the very antipode of life evolved from God, who is Life itself as well as divine Spirit, Truth, and Love. Mary Baker Eddy writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, “Entirely separate from the belief and dream of material living, is the Life divine, revealing spiritual understanding and the consciousness of man’s dominion over the whole earth” (p. 14). 

So, I’m not talking about merely a feel-good, happy, or positive attitude, as helpful as that can sometimes seem. Real joy goes deeper than that, and is hinted at in Christ Jesus’ parable of the sower (see Matthew 13:3–8, 18–23). Jesus compares different states of thought to different types of places where the sower’s seed might fall. He says that those who hear the word of Truth and accept it with joy but don’t stick with it are like rocky ground, on which seed is withered by the sun. As this kind of joy has no root, it has no staying power. Whereas the man who hears the word of Truth and understands it is like good soil, in which seed springs up and bears fruit. Doesn’t this suggest that if joy has a spiritual foundation—if it’s anchored in spiritual understanding and in Truth—then we can be assured of its permanence?

Joy is as real and permanent as God Himself and is included in everyone’s spiritual makeup as a child of God.

The joy of gaining this spiritual understanding is further illustrated in Jesus’ likening of the kingdom of heaven to “treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field” (Matthew 13:44). Just think how that man must have felt—how he must have valued and understood what a great treasure he had found. Jesus is showing us the great joy that is ours when we find God, infinite good, to be the source of our being, always with us and always expressing in us every one of His qualities, including joy. 

I am a teacher and entertainer, so being joyful is natural for me (and part of the job). There are times, however, when I do need to turn to God to lift my thought because things aren’t going as planned or I am dealing with people who feel their problems are overwhelming. I certainly have had times of disappointment and experiences that, when viewed materially, would make me feel quite the opposite of joyful. 

I recall a family relationship situation in which many qualities of God seemed to be out of my reach. I was dealing with frustrated people, as well as fear, anxiety, heavy financial burdens, and a lack of love and support. I struggled to feel the peace and joy that I knew were rightfully mine. I knew how important it was to cling to God and to accept, no matter what, that I was God’s beloved child—cared for, protected, guided, and loved—and that I could lose nothing that was eternally mine. I had to know that this was true for everyone else as well. 

Joy is not dependent upon a person, place, or thing but is an innate spiritual quality from God that can never be lost.

I continued this kind of praying, but one evening I was “treading water” in thought, trying to keep above that sinking feeling. I was performing on the piano and praying at the same time to know that joy is ever present—a quality of God given to me and all forever. Then, a couple that was leaving came over to me and put a note on the piano. It read, “We can’t tell you how much joy you bring to us.” They could have said that they liked the music, that my playing was great, or that they’d had fun (things I have heard before). But because they said specifically that they felt joy, it was clear to me that joy was present right in that moment. This broke the mesmerizing sense of loss and sadness. It made it clear to me that joy is permanent—part of my spiritual makeup that could never be taken from me. I felt free and uplifted. Even though it took some time to see the changes that needed to come about in the family situation, I was no longer sad or burdened, and everything came together harmoniously. 

I now feel true joy more consistently and try to embrace all in the love and joy that come from God. If there is a moment of concern or news of a sad event, I turn to God to quickly acknowledge His ever-presence and love. Knowing I am God’s image, or reflection, I accept the gift of joy. Science and Health states, “This is the doctrine of Christian Science: that divine Love cannot be deprived of its manifestation, or object; that joy cannot be turned into sorrow, for sorrow is not the master of joy; . . .” (p. 304).

Seeing ourselves in the light of our spiritual identity as a cherished child of God, we come to understand that joy is not dependent upon a person, place, or thing, or upon circumstances, but is an innate spiritual quality from God that can never be taken away or lost, even for a moment. As we turn away from a mortal, material viewpoint and align our thought with what God knows, we come to understand that joy, along with all the other spiritual qualities of God, is part of our divine inheritance. 

To experience this, it is important to continue in our spiritual steps forward. Eddy writes: “If the disciple is advancing spiritually, he is striving to enter in. He constantly turns away from material sense, and looks towards the imperishable things of Spirit. If honest, he will be in earnest from the start, and gain a little each day in the right direction, till at last he finishes his course with joy” (Science and Health, p. 21).

Christ Jesus gave the key to joy when he said: “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:10, 11). Those commandments can be summarized in the two laws Christ Jesus identified as greatest: to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself (see Matthew 22:37–39). We couldn’t love our neighbor as ourselves any better than to see everyone as God’s perfect reflection, possessing only and always the qualities of God, such as lovingkindness, honesty, mercy, intelligence, goodness, and yes, joy.

It takes humility and gratitude to recognize and accept our inseparable relation to our almighty creator and to claim our inheritance as a child of God. This brings peace—a great sense of being loved and cherished and a clear feeling of priceless, unchanging, permanent joy. No matter what the condition, no matter what the circumstance, as we stay true to our spiritual identity and reflection of God, we can hold on to, accept, and express these qualities as everlasting, always coming from ever-flowing, all-knowing, ever-present and all-embracing Spirit.