Waiting is not something most of us enjoy. Whether it’s sitting in traffic, waiting for a loved one to return home, or anticipating the fulfillment of a long-held dream, waiting often feels like a burden. But Scripture offers a different perspective—waiting can be an opportunity for joy. To wait with joy is not to deny the difficulty of waiting but to embrace a deeper sense of contentment and hope rooted in God’s presence and promises.

What Is Joy?

Joy is often misunderstood as synonymous with happiness, but they are not the same. Happiness depends on external circumstances—a sunny day, a good meal, or a kind word from a friend. Joy, on the other hand, is a profound sense of gladness and well-being that comes from God and transcends our circumstances.

Biblical Joy

The Bible teaches that joy is a gift from God. In Galatians 5:22–23, joy is listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit, alongside love, peace, and patience. This means joy is not something we manufacture but something God cultivates within us through His Spirit.

Moreover, joy is found in God’s presence. As the psalmist declares, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). Joy comes from knowing and walking with God, the source of all true gladness.

Joy is also excitement and engagement. It is the excitement for where we are headed—our ultimate home with Christ—and engagement in where we are, finding meaning and purpose in the present moment.

Joy as a Foretaste of Heaven

C.S. Lewis beautifully described joy in his spiritual journey, especially in his book Surprised by Joy. For Lewis, joy was a surprising and profound experience that pointed to something beyond this world. He wrote:

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

This insight reminds us that joy is not just about contentment in the here and now—it is also about longing for the fulfillment of God’s kingdom. Joy lies at the intersection of contentment in the present and a yearning for the eternal.

Waiting with Contentment

To wait with joy is to wait with contentment, which is grounded in grace and rooted in faith.

Grounded in Grace

Grace is the opposite of anxiety. When we understand that God has taken away the judgment against us through Christ, we can live in freedom and peace. Zephaniah 3:15 assures us that God has removed His judgments, and Galatians 4:4–5 tells us that in the fullness of time, God sent His Son to redeem us. Because of this, we can rest in the knowledge that we are adopted children of God.

This grace frees us from the pressure to earn God’s love or prove our worth. Instead, we can rejoice in the security of His unchanging favor through Jesus Christ.

Rooted in Faith

Faith enables us to trust God’s timing and His plan for our lives. Just as God perfectly orchestrated the timing of Christ’s birth, He is at work in our lives, even when we cannot see it. Faith assures us that our now and our eternity are secure in God’s hands.

Waiting with faith is like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded—it may feel uncertain, but we know we are safe in God’s care. Faith produces contentment, allowing us to say, “Today, now, is okay,” while trusting God to guide us forward.

Biblical joy arises from this deep, spiritual contentment—a sense of peace that comes from knowing God, His promises, and the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Waiting with Longing

While joy includes contentment, it also embraces longing. At first glance, longing may not seem positive, but in the context of faith, it reflects the heavenward pull of God’s love and life.

Longing for Eternity

The Apostle Paul captures this tension in Philippians 1:23–26. He expresses a desire to be with Christ, which is far better, yet recognizes the necessity of remaining in this world to fulfill God’s purpose. This longing is not about dissatisfaction with life but a recognition that our ultimate home is with Christ.

C.S. Lewis also described joy as “an unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction.” This perspective highlights that joy is more about the journey — the path we walk with God — than any particular destination.

Joy in the Tension

To wait with joy is to hold this tension between contentment and longing. It is to trust God’s timing while yearning for the ultimate fulfillment of His promises. Joy is found at the intersection of these two realities — a deep satisfaction in God’s presence and a holy anticipation of what is to come.

Living in Joyful Waiting

How can we cultivate this kind of joy in our lives? Here are some practical steps:

• Practice gratitude: Regularly thank God for His grace, faithfulness, and the blessings in your life. Gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have in Christ.
• Abide in God’s presence: Spend time in prayer, worship, and Scripture, seeking the joy that comes from being with Him.
• Trust God’s timing: Remind yourself of His past faithfulness and trust that He is working all things for your good, even in the waiting.
• Look forward with hope: Keep your eyes fixed on the promise of eternal life with Christ, letting that hope shape your perspective on today.

The Heavenward Call

Ultimately, to wait with joy is to feel the heavenward call of Christ and be content with the path God has placed before us. It is a life marked by faith, hope, and love — a life that finds its ultimate joy in Jesus.

As we wait, let us embrace the contentment that comes from trusting God’s grace and timing, while also longing for the day when all will be made new. Joy is not just a fleeting emotion; it is a profound, Spirit-given gift that sustains us in the journey and points us to our eternal home.

Much grace and peace to you!