Happy

Happiness is very temporary, in the moment, and fleeting.  Some things that make me happy are: traveling, the beach, sunsets, adventures, sitting by the fire, drinking tea, cookies, photography, flowers.  But all of these things are momentary…what happens when I come home from a trip?  When I leave the beach?  When the sun finishes setting and it is night?  When I return from my adventure? When the fire goes out?  When I drank all my tea and ate all my cookies?  When I finish a photo shoot?  When my flowers die?  Is my happiness over?

But JOY.

Joy comes from a source or cause of delight.

All throughout the Old Testament people are dancing for joy, eating feasts in celebration, greeting each other joyfully, angels shouting for joy, being filled with the joy of the Lord, shouting for joy, hearts being filled with joy, playing music joyfully…

Read through a few Psalms, and you will find many mentions of joy.

Proverbs says justice is a joy to the godly (21:15).

Isaiah (12:3) says “With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!”

The prophets are constantly bringing up joy. Tears of joy (Jer. 31:9).  Joy & laughter.

In Matthew, God speaks from the heavens saying, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” (3:17 & 17:5).

When the women saw Jesus after he was brought back to life, they were filled with great joy (and also a little freaked out) (Mt. 28:8).

John the Baptist jumped for joy in his mother Elizabeth’s womb when Mary, the mother of Jesus, walked in the room (Luke 1:44).

“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” (Luke 2:10).  This is a passage familiar to many people, and read at Christmas.

One of my favorite passages about joy is as follows: “In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” (Luke 15:7).

People in the presence of God are filled with great joy.

None of these instances of joy talk about a good cup of tea, or a beautiful day, or something from ourselves.  But in all of these passages of scripture, God is the source of Joy.

Jumping to Acts…

“⁴⁴ And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. ⁴⁵ They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.⁴⁶ They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity ⁴⁷ all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:44-47).

Joy, when shared as a community, is beautifully magnified.

Acts 13:52, “And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

Romans talks about how faith brings joy.

Paul, in 2 Corinthians 6, really reveals the profound difference between “happiness” and “joy.”  Happiness is fleeting, a feeling, and based on the circumstances.  Joy is a way of life, a state of the heart, even in the midst of mourning. Paul talks about his heart aching, yet still having joy.  Paul finishes this letter by saying, “Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Cor. 13:11).  Paul’s joy was to preach Christ crucified.  He said that suffering was a joy, because he suffered for Christ.

Galatians tells us joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit, meaning joy comes from the Holy Spirit.

And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Joy does not come from ourselves, our good attitudes, or just “trying” a little bit harder.  True Joy comes from the Holy Spirit, who is at work in us.

James talks about joy in a way that is almost hard to imagine, (1:2-4): “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”  James is not saying that when hard things happen, we can’t mourn, or be angry, or question God.  But James is telling us that in the midst of these terrible and horrible times, when our faith is tested, it is then that we have a chance to grow.

Again in 1 Peter 4:13, “stead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.”

The Holy Spirit is my source of joy, that will never end.  Happiness is fleeting, but JOY lasts forever.

Love, Mycah