Joy is something many mistake for happiness. The two are not dissimilar as they are both felt and are both something we all desire.
But we need to understand there is a primary difference between the two.
Happiness is fleeting while joy is eternal. The evidence of my contention is seen when we are happy one moment and unhappy the next. Joy, on the other hand, can never be taken from us because joy is a by-product of knowing and understanding how blessed we have been, regardless of our situation.
For many, the argument is you haven’t been where I have been or gone through what I have gone through. Clearly this is true, yet the presence of joy can exist in all circumstances. We just must know where to look.
You see, joy comes from a God who went to the Cross for the joy set before Him. That joy was in knowing He was making a way to reconcile mankind to Himself.
Even though this is true, it still requires a response from us. That response is accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Here is where true joy is found.
Sadly, this is something many are unwilling to accept or consider, even as they live joyless lives.
The question is why? Why would someone be willing to live joylessly and unwilling to seek the source of joy?
I believe it is because many have been blinded and allowed the heartache and pain in their lives to steal what little joy can be found in a life disconnected from God.
In my life, I found joy when I found my Savior. Afterwards, I began to see the blessings of the life I had been allowed to live. From here, I began to see; these blessings could be found in the struggles and issues I faced when walking through precarious and painful times.
Today, I have become keenly aware of “joy in my life”.
One of my greatest joys is my wife, Bonnie. We have known each other since we were fourteen years old. We have been together for forty-two years now. Her presence in my life has given me the strength and courage to pursue my dreams. I have come to realize; being with her brings me great joy.
Have our lives been perfect? No, far from it. But the one thing we have, which can never be taken from us is the joy found in sharing our faith and love for Jesus. This faith bond has not only allowed us to see joy in the successes of life, but it has also allowed us to find joy in the pain of loss and difficulties too.
I understand everyone is not blessed with a long-lasting relationship and everyone does not share my perspective on life and faith.
However, I firmly believe the best relationships we have in life are the ones that lead us to the joy we can only find when we place our hope and faith in Jesus.
This is what the ever present “joy in my life” has been built on over time. This joy is eternal and for that I am eternally grateful.
The choices we make in life are ours. The question of why we would not choose to seek and find the source of all joy is one I cannot understand. My prayer is we would all understand being joyful always is not only a gift from God but is also His promise and plan for our lives!
John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
