Joy is a state of being. It is not an emotion. Joy is too easily confused with happiness, but they are not the same. Happiness comes and goes. It is contingent on our circumstances. If something good happens, then we feel happy. A moment later, we hear a piece of bad news and we feel sad. Our joy is not moved by the ups and downs of life. It is steadfast.
Joy is having the confidence, peace, and hope that we will survive the tough things of life. It is the hope that even if we should physically die, our soul will never die. Joy knows that when bad things do happen, it is not God or the universe conspiring to destroy us.
Many of us have lost our joy. When bad things happen we start to wonder why God is rejecting us. We question God’s love and promises. “If you are so good, then why is this happening to me?” In our anger, we may deny God. I spent years giving God the middle finger because I was angry at my circumstances. I perceived God as distant and uncaring. God failed to protect me when I was young and vulnerable therefore I would not trust God to be loving or good. I lost my joy.
We grow angry and start looking for explanations as to why horrible things happen. As we come up empty on reasons why, we start blaming the people around us. If only this . . . if only that. We plant seeds of bitterness that grow into giant weeds. If we do not stop it, before we know it the weeds will have strangled our joy.
Joy knows that bad things happen. It knows that often life seems unfair. And while perception may be the reality before us, we trust that we do not know the whole story.
Where do we find our joy? We find it when we choose hope over despair. When we choose to cling to the promises that this too shall pass – the pain, the anger will eventually subside. It is not denying our emotions. Because joy is a state of being, it can coexist in the midst of deep sorrow or righteous anger. When we have joy, no circumstance, no fleeting emotion can take that away. Joy is anchored deep in our hearts.
We find joy in trusting in the covenants of God – those promises of redemption and presence. We choose to trust that our temporary circumstances are not the entirety of the story. Trusting that someday we will be able to look back and see that our horrific situations led us to a better place. It is hoping and trusting that our struggles in life are graces in disguise.
We choose to trust that indeed the Spirit will remain with us. We know that despite our circumstances, we are not alone. That despite our atrocities God has not forsaken us. Joy believes that we have a God who suffers alongside us; a God who finds no happiness in our struggles. Our joy comes from clinging to this belief and refusing to let go.
Next . . . K is for Kindness.
Joy is having the confidence, peace, and hope that we will survive the tough things of life. It is the hope that even if we should physically die, our soul will never die. Joy knows that when bad things do happen, it is not God or the universe conspiring to destroy us.
Many of us have lost our joy. When bad things happen we start to wonder why God is rejecting us. We question God’s love and promises. “If you are so good, then why is this happening to me?” In our anger, we may deny God. I spent years giving God the middle finger because I was angry at my circumstances. I perceived God as distant and uncaring. God failed to protect me when I was young and vulnerable therefore I would not trust God to be loving or good. I lost my joy.
We grow angry and start looking for explanations as to why horrible things happen. As we come up empty on reasons why, we start blaming the people around us. If only this . . . if only that. We plant seeds of bitterness that grow into giant weeds. If we do not stop it, before we know it the weeds will have strangled our joy.
Joy knows that bad things happen. It knows that often life seems unfair. And while perception may be the reality before us, we trust that we do not know the whole story.
Where do we find our joy? We find it when we choose hope over despair. When we choose to cling to the promises that this too shall pass – the pain, the anger will eventually subside. It is not denying our emotions. Because joy is a state of being, it can coexist in the midst of deep sorrow or righteous anger. When we have joy, no circumstance, no fleeting emotion can take that away. Joy is anchored deep in our hearts.
We find joy in trusting in the covenants of God – those promises of redemption and presence. We choose to trust that our temporary circumstances are not the entirety of the story. Trusting that someday we will be able to look back and see that our horrific situations led us to a better place. It is hoping and trusting that our struggles in life are graces in disguise.
We choose to trust that indeed the Spirit will remain with us. We know that despite our circumstances, we are not alone. That despite our atrocities God has not forsaken us. Joy believes that we have a God who suffers alongside us; a God who finds no happiness in our struggles. Our joy comes from clinging to this belief and refusing to let go.
Next . . . K is for Kindness.
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