--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Joy does not come to you if you are…" description: "\"“Joy does not come to you if you are spiritually passive; rather, joy is cultivated, but joy is cultivated by things you do.”\" — Donald S. Whitney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19b/donald-s-whitney-42522_joy_joy-does-not-come-to-you-if-you-are-spir_549415.jpg" --- # Joy does not come to you if you are spiritually passive… ![“Joy does not come to you if you are spiritually passive; rather, joy is cultivated, but joy is cultivated by things you do.” quote by Donald S. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19b/donald-s-whitney-42522_joy_joy-does-not-come-to-you-if-you-are-spir_549415.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19b/donald-s-whitney-42522_joy_joy-does-not-come-to-you-if-you-are-spir_549415.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19b/donald-s-whitney-42522_joy_joy-does-not-come-to-you-if-you-are-spir_549415.jpg) > ““Joy does not come to you if you are spiritually passive; rather, joy is cultivated, but joy is cultivated by things you do.”” [Donald S. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-s-whitney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Joy requires active effort and intentional actions rather than passive waiting. **In simple terms:** Joy is earned through doing. Key Takeaway Take proactive steps to create joy. Themes joy action spirituality Mood motivational reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily routines - community service - creative projects - mindfulness practice Key Concepts psychology habit formation Questions to Reflect On - What actions bring you joy? - How can you cultivate joy in routine? A Different Perspective Joy may be elusive despite effort; external factors affect it. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) ## Related quotes > [“Like other spiritual fruit, joy must be cultivated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foster/like-other-spiritual-fruit-joy-must-be-cultivated/) [George Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foster/) > [Be in a state of gratitude for everything that shows up in your life. Be thankful for the storms as well as the smooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-in-a-state-of-gratitude-for-everything-that-shows-up-in-your-life/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“Reverend Veronica Goines sums this up as, “Peace is joy at rest, and joy is peace on its feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/reverend-veronica-goines-sums-this-up-as-peace-is-joy-at-rest-and-joy/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [I have touched with a sense of art some people-they felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cassatt/i-have-touched-with-a-sense-of-art-some-people-they-felt-the-love-and/) [Mary Cassatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cassatt/) > [“Start the daily practice of joyful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/start-the-daily-practice-of-joyful-living/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) Daniel K Judd > [Safin, in his way, is very talented. It is a joy to watch them play; it is tennis of a very high quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-krajicek/safin-in-his-way-is-very-talented-it-is-a-joy-to-watch-them-play-it/) [Richard Krajicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-krajicek/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [“When you finally realize your gifts and talents, joy and satisfaction come as you walk in your purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanya-richards-ross/when-you-finally-realize-your-gifts-and-talents-joy-and-satisfaction/) [Sanya Richards-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanya-richards-ross/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More by Donald S. Whitney > [“According to James 1:22-25, we can experience God’s truth so powerfully that what the Lord wants us to do becomes as plain to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-s-whitney/according-to-james-1-22-25-we-can-experience-god-s-truth-so/) [Donald S. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-s-whitney/) > [“Discipline without direction is drudgery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-s-whitney/discipline-without-direction-is-drudgery/) [Donald S. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-s-whitney/) > [“Tom Landry, coach of the Dallas Cowboys football team for most of three decades, said, “The job of a football coach is to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-s-whitney/tom-landry-coach-of-the-dallas-cowboys-football-team-for-most-of/) [Donald S. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-s-whitney/) > [“You may be singing 'Holy, holy, holy,' but if you aren't thinking about God while singing it, you are not worshiping.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-s-whitney/you-may-be-singing-holy-holy-holy-but-if-you-aren-t-thinking-about/) [Donald S. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-s-whitney/) > [“From matters as crucial as the death of Jesus, to those as mundane as eating and drinking, the Bible presents the glo ry of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-s-whitney/from-matters-as-crucial-as-the-death-of-jesus-to-those-as-mundane-as/) [Donald S. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-s-whitney/) > [“What value is there to reading one, three, or more chapters of Scripture only to find that after you’ve finished, you can’t recall a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-s-whitney/what-value-is-there-to-reading-one-three-or-more-chapters-of/) [Donald S. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-s-whitney/) > [“If people threw away their money as thoughtlessly as they throw away their time, we would think them insane. Yet time is infinitely more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-s-whitney/if-people-threw-away-their-money-as-thoughtlessly-as-they-throw-away/) [Donald S. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-s-whitney/) > [“The word discipline has disappeared from our minds, our mouths, our pulpits, and our culture. We hardly know what discipline means in modern American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-s-whitney/the-word-discipline-has-disappeared-from-our-minds-our-mouths-our/) [Donald S. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-s-whitney/) > [“So the Spiritual Disciplines are those personal and interpersonal activities given by God in the Bible as the sufficient means believers in Jesus Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-s-whitney/so-the-spiritual-disciplines-are-those-personal-and-interpersonal/) [Donald S. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-s-whitney/) [Explore all 10 Donald S. Whitney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-s-whitney/) ## More Joy quotes > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“When you finally realize your gifts and talents, joy and satisfaction come as you walk in your purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanya-richards-ross/when-you-finally-realize-your-gifts-and-talents-joy-and-satisfaction/) [Sanya Richards-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanya-richards-ross/) > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [Safin, in his way, is very talented. It is a joy to watch them play; it is tennis of a very high quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-krajicek/safin-in-his-way-is-very-talented-it-is-a-joy-to-watch-them-play-it/) [Richard Krajicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-krajicek/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) Daniel K Judd > [“Start the daily practice of joyful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/start-the-daily-practice-of-joyful-living/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have touched with a sense of art some people-they felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cassatt/i-have-touched-with-a-sense-of-art-some-people-they-felt-the-love-and/) [Mary Cassatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cassatt/) > [“Reverend Veronica Goines sums this up as, “Peace is joy at rest, and joy is peace on its feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/reverend-veronica-goines-sums-this-up-as-peace-is-joy-at-rest-and-joy/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Be in a state of gratitude for everything that shows up in your life. Be thankful for the storms as well as the smooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-in-a-state-of-gratitude-for-everything-that-shows-up-in-your-life/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) [Browse all 15,003 Joy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Joy does not come to you if you are spiritually passive; rather, joy is cultivated, but joy is cultivated by things you do.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Donald S. 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