True Undeniable Joy

We all know that person. That person that has an undeniable joy to them. They are always smiling, always putting you in a good mood. The person who is always willing to talk, laugh, or go get you something. Even when something bad happens to them they are oddly optimistic. They plant themselves in the Lord and are sure that he will work all things out in the end. Maybe this person is a friend, a parent, a teacher, someone at your church. No matter who it is, there is just something else about them. Something wonderful.

So, what is joy? The dictionary says something about “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” If you had asked me this question a week ago, I would have had a similar answer. I would have said something about it being long-lasting happiness that comes from God. But, this past week has changed that. This terrible, stressful week in which I received so many different types of bad news. It is not happiness like we are always told. When someone you love is suffering, you are not happy. When you feel all hope is lost, you are not happy. When someone comes along and ruins your plans, you are not happy. Joy is not happiness. I’m going to say that again. Joy is not happiness. Joy exists in it’s own realm. A realm that can only be understood when you put your faith in the Lord.

You can have joy and not be happy. That is where people get lost. Having joy is not facing the world with a smile on your face and a good attitude. Happiness is fleeting and can be measured, contained. Joy cannot be measured, it cannot be contained. It flows out of you when you are angry, sorrowful, or rejoicing. It is not an emotion, it is a state of being. Just like I am human, I am joyful. Joy cannot be disassociated with me once I have come to know it. It is an integral part of my character. I have been looking for the perfect definition of joy, but one cannot be found. That is because joy cannot be put into simple words. It cannot be described. Even if this blog post were 50 pages long, I would not even capture a fraction of what joy means, but I will try my best to explain what it has meant in my life.

Joy is getting up every morning thankful for another day even when you don’t feel like getting out of bed. Joy is not faltering in your perseverance and pursuance of the Lord despite the hurdles the world puts in your way. Joy is seeing through a bad situation. I often thought that joy was seeing the best in a bad situation. But now, I see joy as being able to see that not all bad situations are forever. It hurts in the moment and it is okay to acknowledge that. But to have true joy is to trust that it will not hurt forever.

Joy is hard. It is not easy to trust God when your world is falling apart. Joy is not natural, that is why we always notice those people who have joy radiating off of them. It does not come easily to many people. Despite this, joy is necessary. If you have any intention of living a life in this vicious world, you need joy. You cannot go through this life without joy. You will fall and you will fail. The burdens, the stress, and the evil will overwhelm you if you are not finding your joy and your strength in the Lord.

I’ve already touched on this a bit, but the only source of joy is God. Joy does not come from friends, TV, instagram, your dog, or anything else that is of this world. The only place you can find joy, true undeniable joy, is from God. He is abounding in joy. His heart overflows with it. My favorite phrase to describe God is exceedingly abounding. He overwhelms us with how much his joy overflows. He is rich in joy. And he wants to share it with you. He wants to ease your burdens. He want to encourage you and carry you through this life.

As seasons in life change, your idea of joy will change. Day to day, week to week, year to year, you will not see it the same. Some days, when you are on a spiritual high, it seems easy. Some days, when you get the worst of news, it grows increasingly difficult. So as this changes, call on the father. His greatest desire is to ensure the joy of his beloved children.