Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy, Pt. 2
What does that little tangent have to do with happiness and joy? Plenty. Social pressures are a key factor is how we see happiness. Society teaches and enforces a choice matrix that puts us in a place to make difficult decisions, and going through that matrix of choice, of prioritization of values, is never fun. Nor is it easy. However, the societal acceptance most folks seek in one form or another is only available after a choice matrix compatible to the society teaches is adopted.
Joy, by comparison, is a permanent emotional condition based on faith or knowledge.
Let me tell you what I mean by that. Joy is a deeper experience than happiness. It is based on what you know about your condition and the world you live in, regardless of your matrix of choice about happiness, or anything else for that matter. Joy is that which comes into play when you are captivated by the graceful flow of water in the midst of the flood. It comes into play where there is no sun shining, but the silver lining of the clouds is clearly visible. It is the hope in the midst of suffering, perseverance in the midst of the daunting, optimism in the face of the impossible. It has nothing to do with present circumstance, and instead draws from the well of what we believe about the world we live in and who we are. It is about what we know, not about what we feel. And in our almost obsessively feeling-related culture, joy is notably absent. No where is our life’s true philosophy more evident than in the amount of joy we possess.
For the Christian, life should be filled with joy-the Creator of the universe is constantly working on our behalves, bring us closer in conformity daily to the likeness of Jesus Christ, giving us all that we need. When you remove the need to strive for possessions, because of God’s provision, there joy and happiness coexist. When you remove the need for relationships to define who we are and what we are worth because God knows us by name and tells us who we are, there joy and happiness coexist. When you remove the desire to improve your circumstances by your own strength, and trust and rely that God is working your situation for the `good of all who love him and have been called according to His purpose,’ there joy and happiness coexist. And in the times when happiness is not present, when times are hard, when circumstances wear away our faith, when we wait on God’s provision in our time of need, our joy is not destroyed. This is why you see constantly throughout the New Testament the Scriptures entreating Christians to be joyful in all things, and never doing the same for happiness. No one can be happy all the time. But you can be joyful. The famous Christmas carol is not called, “Happiness to the World.” That isn’t an accident.
When was the last time you felt truly joyful? When was the last time what you knew about the world brought you comfort and hope? When was the last time you were truly encouraged to your core about what you saw in yourself that wasn’t blow away by the next time you messed up? The question stands…but joy is available…you just have to know where to look, and what you’re looking for. Blessings.