A listener to this podcast named Eric right then to ask this, Pastor John is joy in God

and love for God the same thing.

And if not, how are they different?

Before I answer how they're different, let me define what I mean by joy in God.

And we had another question, I believe, on what that is, what is joy in God?

So maybe I can kill two birds with one stone.

In this context, I want us to think of joy not as a kind of emotional manifestation, because

what I mean by joy can be manifest in weeping or leaping.

Joy can be present very strongly in moments of greatest loss.

I know that from experience and I see it in the Bible, sorrowfully yet always rejoicing.

And it can be there in moments when we dance for joy, because something so wonderful

has happened.

So that's the first clarification, joy in God, in God is not identical with any one kind

of emotional manifestation.

It can be present in and under many kinds of emotional manifestations.

What I mean by joy, my effort at a definition, is a deep settled, emotionally satisfying

yes, from the heart to the supreme worth of God in all things.

Let me say it again, a deep settled emotionally, I almost wanted to say restful, and that

would be okay.

And emotionally contented and emotionally restful and emotionally satisfying yes, just a

deep yes, from the heart to the supreme worth of God above all things in any circumstance.

Now, when we see God for who He is, as supremely beautiful and therefore supremely valuable

...