What is Joy?

Monday, July 16, 2018

Last week I spent some time looking at our American right to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” as presented in our Declaration of Independence. Little did I know that my husband’s sermon today would be entitled, “Is Joy Attainable.” I thought that was pretty interesting. 

So what is joy anyway?

According to Mr. Webster, joy is the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. 

Elsewhere on the Internet, joy, gladness, happiness, jubilation, exultation, pleasure, delight, and euphoria are all listed as being synonyms for each other. 

Over time, words tend to take on different meanings as described by their culture. Remember when we used to say something was “bad” — and you had to add that inflection in your tone — when we really meant that it was good? 

Well, a more recent definition by Pastor John Piper says that, “Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the word and in the world.”

I like to think that happiness is a bit superficial or fleeting while joy is more deep-seated or permanent. 

• I’m always happy to see my children and their families. 
• When my parents died, I had inner joy from the Lord although I grieved their losses. 

Bill says that happiness is dependent on people, things, or circumstances while joy comes from God and is independent of those external forces. We need to recognize that joy comes from God and look to Him to provide it. 

Lord, thank you for your joy. Help us to seek it and to recognize it when we find it. 

wellegance.com