“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” (1 Peter 1:8).

Joy is talked about all the time during the Christmas season, but in this verse, we see a picture of joy that is rooted in something deeper. It is a joy that is not dependent on our earthly circumstances. It is an unchanging reality. It is inexpressible and surpasses all understanding. So where does this type of joy come from?

Peter shows us that it comes from one simple thing: faith in Jesus. Even though we have not seen Jesus with our eyes, we love Him and believe in Him. Faith is choosing to believe in the unseen. Romans 5:1 reminds us, “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” That peace blossoms into a joy rooted not in this world, but in the glory of God Himself. Through belief in the unseen Savior, our hearts are filled with an eternal joy that can coexist with trials and struggles—a joy that radiates the glory of our incredible God to the world around us.