Reflections on Joy and Gratitude

Did you know that joy and gratitude are related? Well, the English words are not related, but the Greek words that are translated joy and gratitude in the Bible are. The way these words are connected is illuminating.

The Greek word translated joy is chara (sounds like kara). It comes from the word charis which means grace and is the root word for a whole family of Greek words. Another word in that family is eucharistos which means thanks, or in its verb form to give thanks, as in a prayer of thanksgiving. [Jesus gave thanks for the cup at His last Passover meal with His disciples. In the 2nd Century some Christians adopted that term for the Lord’s Supper, Eucharist.]

Does your family ‘say grace’ before a meal or do you ‘give thanks’? The two expressions go back to the same Greek word, charis.

When God shows charis to mankind, we call it grace. Charis is also translated kindness and gift.

For us, grace (charis) is an undeserved favor or gift from God. But we can offer charis back to God through prayers of thanksgiving. Another way that we express grace is by showing kindness to others and in the giving of gifts.

God is gracious by nature. In other words, He does not have to try to show grace. In His joy, He naturally responds with grace. His grace is seen in daily blessings enjoyed by all mankind as well as in special blessings reserved for Christians.

A person can say, “Thank you” without sincerity, can be forced to act kind, or can give a gift out of obligation. Yet, expressions of true grace come only from a heart of joy (chara).

In general, joy develops in our hearts because of the tremendous grace of God toward us. In general, we offer prayers of thanksgiving for the many gifts and kindnesses received from God. However, the Apostle Paul taught something different about making a request in prayer:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 

—Philippians 4:6 (NASB95)

Does that surprise you? We are to make our requests with thanksgiving; thanks before receiving. Does that make sense?

It makes perfect sense when you think about joy. Our joy is not based on our current circumstances, but on God’s promises. We pray with an expectation that God will answer, that God will provide, that God truly cares for us.

Now, one more connection:
James taught us to “consider it joy...when encountering various trials.” Later, he wrote:

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised those who love Him.

—James 1:12 (NASB95)

The Greek term for blessed is an intensified form of chara, and also in the charis family of words. It could be translated as an interjection: Rejoice! Yet, in the verse above: “Blissful! is a man who perseveres….”

This same term introduces the beatitudes of Jesus in Matthew 5. So, the beatitudes are nothing other than promises of tremendous joy! The joy may not be felt now, but the joy is real because God always keeps his promises. It is as if we already possess the things He has promised.

James included another beatitude in his short letter. Look for bliss in James 1:22-25. (Verse 25 is key.) Do you want to embrace this tremendous joy in your life? James explains how.


Mark Stinnett

December 5, 2021