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. … For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. … I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth.

In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. … Yet we live on … sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. … I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds … so that my joy was greater than ever.

Ro 12:12; Ro 15:13, Ro 14:17-18; Pi 1:4-6, 2Co 2:3; 2Co 8:2, 2Co 6:9-10, 2Co 7:4, 2Co 7:7

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