16 Prayers For Joy In The Bible

Becky lives in Texas with her husband and two sons. She is passionate about supporting people in drawing nearer to Christ using Scripture, prayer, and journaling.

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Use these prayers for joy in the Bible as examples of how to pray Bible verses to ask God to show you how to experience more joy in your own life.

Though the world is often chasing after happiness, it is joy that truly fills the heart. The kind of joy that Scripture speaks of is not like the fleeting happiness of the world that shifts with every wind of change.

Instead, biblical joy is steadfast, and unchanging despite our changing circumstances.

Though there aren’t many prayers asking specifically for joy in Scripture, the Bible is filled with themes of joy. There are many examples of biblical characters who pursued and lived in the joy of the Lord, and that joy became their strength.

So if you are looking for some examples of joyful people in Scripture, as well as prayers for joy in the Bible, then look no further.

May the lives of these biblical characters, and Scriptures bring you encouragement and help you to seek joy in the Lord.

Examples Of Joy In The Bible

1. Paul – The Shipwrecked Yet Faithful Servant

The Apostle Paul’s story is one of radical transformation. Before he became a believer he persecuted Christ’s followers. But when Jesus met him on the road to Damascus He not only changed his heart but said that Paul would suffer many things for His name’s sake.

Throughout the New Testament, we see that Paul experienced countless hardships for the sake of Christ. He received beatings and was imprisoned for preaching Christ. Not only that but he was shipwrecked on more than one occasion and had false accusations brought against him.

Yet, despite all he faced, Paul not only remained faithful and joyful, but in his letters to fellow believers, he reminded them of that same joy that is to be found in Christ. Perhaps one of the most quoted verses comes from Paul.

In Philippians 4:12-13 he says, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Paul had seen the many sides of life. He knew what it was to be filled with food, and what it was to go hungry.

He knew comfortable circumstances and harsh conditions. He knew what it was like to have what you need, and more, and what it was like to be in need.

Yet, despite what he experienced, he learned to be content in Christ. Jesus gave him the strength to be joyful and content in every circumstance.

The irony is that this very book, the book of Philippians has often been called the “Book of Joy”. Yet, when Paul wrote the book he was imprisoned.

Paul not only preached joy, but was a clear picture of the joy of Christ that surpasses all of our worldly experiences, and hardships.

2. Ruth – The Gentile Woman Who Found New Faith

Another example of someone who finds themselves in devastating and despairing circumstances is Ruth.

She was a Moabite and had been married to the son of a Jewish widow named Naomi. Both the women had experienced tragedy, as Naomi’s husband, and son, who was Ruth’s husband had died.

This left them in a desperate situation, as they had no one to care for them. Naomi’s last hope was to return to the land of Judah, and she gave Ruth instruction to return to her family, so she could remarry and find someone who could take care of her.

But Ruth refused to leave Naomi’s side. Though she had come from a different culture and background, she chose to stick with Noami and make Naomi’s people her people, and Naomi’s God, her God.

In Ruth 1:16-17 she says to her mother-in-law, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

Ruth displayed loyalty to Naomi on that day, even though she could have returned to her own people.

Instead, she placed her trust in the God of Israel and found joy in the midst of an unfortunate situation.

God blessed both these women, providing Ruth with a husband, Boaz, who took care of both her and Naomi. Their union ultimately led to the birth of King David, as her son Jesse was the grandfather of David.

Amid tragedy, and an unknown future, Ruth showed determination and turned away from the idols of her culture and to the living God.

In Him, she not only found hope, but joy as He turned her story around.

3. David – The Imperfect Man After God’s Own Heart

David is one of those characters from Scripture that we learn of early in life.

The great battle between him and Goliath is perhaps a story most of us have heard. Perhaps the greatest thing we see from and can learn from David is his heart.

Though he was anointed as the future King of Israel, David not only experienced many hardships, and pursuits in his life, he also failed, and reaped the fruit of the sins that he committed.

Yet, despite all of this, David was known as the man after God’s heart. The book of Psalms which is a display of emotion, and praise among other things shows us a big part of David’s heart.

At least half of the Psalms are attributed to David, and possibly more. It is David who praised God and danced before Him in the Psalms. Despite all the hardships he faced, David sought God’s heart and held tight to Him.

David is an example of the vulnerability that we can show before God, acknowledging our sin, our fears, and our needs, yet praising Him at the same time for who He is, and what He has and will do.

Prayers For Joy In The Bible

1. Romans 15:13 – May God Fill You With All Joy And Peace

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13

2. Galatians 5:22-23 – The Fruit Of The Spirit Is Joy

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23

3. James 1:2-4 – Consider Trials Pure Joy

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4

4. Romans 12:12 – Be Joyful In Hope

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. – Romans 12:12

5. Proverbs 10:28 – The Prospect Of The Righteous Is Joy

The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. – Proverbs 10:28

6. Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice In The Lord Always

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! – Philippians 4:4

7. Isaiah 9:3 – He Increases Joy

You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. – Isaiah 9:3

8. Psalm 30:5 – Rejoicing Comes In The Morning

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. – Psalm 30:5

9. 1 Peter 1:8-9 – Filled With An Inexpressible And Glorious Joy

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. – 1 Peter 1:8-9

10. Ecclesiastes 9:7 – A Joyful Heart

Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. – Ecclesiastes 9:7

11. Nehemiah 8:10 – The Joy Of The Lord Is Your Strength

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10

12. Isaiah 35:10 – Everlasting Joy Will Crown Their Heads

And those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. – Isaiah 35:10

13. Proverbs 15:23 – There Is Joy In Giving An Apt Rely

A person finds joy in giving an apt reply — and how good is a timely word! – Proverbs 15:23

14. Isaiah 12:6 – Sing For Joy

Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you. – Isaiah 12:6

15. Psalm 27:6 – Sacrifice With Shouts Of Joy

Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. – Psalm 27:6