Regardless of personal belief, most everyone would agree they aspire to experience and demonstrate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control. (Galatians 5:22-23) Today, we take another look at joy.

I figure that life is pretty serious but we need to laugh healthily every day. I’ve always had a weakness for silly jokes, puns, dry British humor. I’ve often told Marcia that part of my mission in life is to keep her laughing…hopefully not just at my mistakes! 🙂

Joy and happiness sometimes resemble each other. They are both qualities we want to experience again and again. But one place they look very different is in the fire of a difficult and painful situation. Like dew on the grass, pleasure and happiness quickly evaporate. Even in less painful times, the pleasure of the moment is easily undone by unkind words, an unexpected expense, or a disappointing experience. Joy however, can sustain itself, and you, throughout daily and deep life pains. Author CS Lewis says, “I doubt whether anyone who has tasted it would ever, if both were in his power, exchange it for all the pleasure in the world. But then Joy is never in our power and pleasure often is.”

Joy is found much deeper than mere happiness; so deep that we have to reach quite beyond our own power to find it. Jesus spoke truths to His disciples so their “joy may be complete.” (John 15:11) He teaches believers that they will weep and grieve but that “their grief will turn to joy.” He promises that no one can take away our joy. (John 16:20-22)

Think about that. Whereas your happiness and mine is usually based on some momentary circumstance or experience, joy lives within our heart and we cannot be robbed of it. Despite what your life circumstance, be it cancer or divorce, financial woes, or rejection, yes in the face of these disappointments, joy can still be yours. Why? Because Joy always hopes. It is stronger than sorrow. It is certain of those things which the eye cannot see. Even death cannot steal it away because deepest joy has eternal hope, secured in the promises and submission to Jesus Christ. And if we have eternal hope and joy, then we certainly have reason to be joyful now. Again Jesus promises: “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” (John 17:13)

Happiness and Joy. You can have them both. Don’t miss out on joy.