Joy.

I recently ended with the fruit of the spirit, today is about joy.

Joy. I have long believed that there is an instrumental difference between joy and happiness. People talk about the “pursuit of happiness” and having a happy life. And there is nothing wrong with that, in fact there is a LOT of good in that. Happy is a positive, wonderful emotion. But, it is also circumstantial. We are happy when our team wins. We are happy when we get the job we wanted. We are happy when the medicine finally starts to work. But, what happens when none of that falls into place? When our plans don’t turn out the way we wanted them to? What are we then? Sadness, hurt, frustration…all feelings and all circumstantial. I’ve been through them all. I’ve witnessed death too young, I haven’t gotten the job, I’ve faced sickness and seen how sickness can take a tole on those closest to me. I’m also a Minnesota sports fan and have seen loss after loss…right when they get our hopes up. But, I am here to tell you, there is more to this life than all of these circumstances. The answer? JOY. True, lasting joy, no matter what the circumstance is. Joy that is grounded in who God is, what His promises are, and His control over my life, over all life. I have been diving into Gracelaced by Ruth Chou Simons and she states this definition of joy:

Christian joy is the emotion springing from the deep-down confidence of the Christian that God is in complete and perfect control of everything and will bring from it our good in time, and our glory in eternity. That’s Christian joy. Christian joy is not an emotion on top of an emotion. It is not a feeling on top of a feeling. It is a feeling on top of a fact. It is an emotional response to what I know to be true about my God. -John MacArthur

That kind of joy, that’s what we are all after. Joy that fills you so deeply and fully that even in true suffering, you can rejoice. I know, “it’s easier said than done,” but I also know the truth of it. Pain and suffering, they are inevitable in this life, but they give us the opportunity to turn to God, to let go of our control, to be grateful and loved for what we do have. I wrote about Romans 5:3-4 awhile back and everytime I go back to these verses, I am reminded of the true joy we have in Christ. I am reminded that God loves me, God is with me, and HE has provision over my life. My joy is grounded in the faith I have in God. It is unshakeable.

So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:18

It is the story of the bible, Christ suffered. He lived the perfect life, one that none of us can and then, He took on the sins of the world and died. Not just any death, He was crucified. For you and for me. But, that wasn’t the end. He came back, to give us His spirit. And as he went to be with the Father, He left His Holy Spirit with us. And it is by that Spirit, that through suffering, we can rejoice. And we live, not for ourselves, but for the will of God.

I could type up all of these bible verses that point to the will of God, that point to the spirit, the battle between the flesh and the spirit and how we are to overcome, over and over, not by our own doing, but by the will of God. By His spirit, we are lead to the very essence of Joy. Instead, I will just leave you with the opportunity to look these verses up, to see for yourself what God has to say. I encourage you to seek His word, to center His word all around you. Because when you do, I full-heartedly believe you will experience the lasting joy that is promised to you and to me. 

1 Peter 4:2

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Hebrews 13:21

Ephesians 5:15-20

2 Corinthians 4:14

…because Jesus is with you, there is fullness of joy. No matter your circumstance. (From some random person I started following on instagram, hertrueworth).

Love and blessings,