Joy, Joy, Joy in my heart is ringing
Joy, Joy, Joy Jesus set me singing
Singing of His mighty love for me
Telling how He died to set me free
Filling my whole life with melody
Bring Joy, Joy, Joy!
Joy has been defined as a feeling of great happiness or pleasure. In biblical terms, joy is defined as a deep, abiding, and spiritual contentment rooted in a relationship with God, rather than temporary happiness caused by circumstances. Can you see the difference in the two definitions? For the better part of my Christian life, I have grappled with both types of joy. Most of the time, I exhibit the first joy, based on happenings and feelings, temporarily. On occasion, I get to experience the second type of joy, the long-lasting, original, genuine joy that cannot be taken from us. The joy that Jesus gives.
Today, I want to talk about this second type of joy. Everyone is familiar with the first, but the second is rarer and conditional. I say conditional, because it emanates from a relationship with God in Christ Jesus. To experience it, you must know God and be in relationship with Him. The root of this type of joy is found in its ‘counterculturality’, if there’s such a word. It means that when you feel this kind of joy, it is in spite of, regardless of, nevertheless, despite the events happening around you. It is the type of joy that you look deep inside you to find. It is God-breathed. It is a peaceful joy. You may be screaming or crying and allowing your body express itself, but deep within you, you know that joy.
This joy is the type that Abraham had when he laid his son, Isaac, on that altar of sacrifice. It is a knowing deep within that you are not alone, even though looking around, you can’t see anyone. It is a conviction that if God allowed this pain to come my way, it is only because it is necessary to achieve His purposes, and He will not waste my pain.
This type of joy is the type referred to by Habakkuk in Chapter 3 from verse 17 to the end:
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
able to tread upon the heights.
This type of joy does not give in to the situation; it does not succumb to the environment. It is an “even though” joy. It stands strong in the face of pain, tears and mourning. It weathers the storms of life with resolve, knowing that “the Eternal God is our refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deut.33:27)
Choose joy today, regardless of what may be confronting you. The joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, Rejoice (Phil.4:4). Remember, this type of joy does not come naturally. You have to find it. You have to dig deep into God to find it and hold on to it. When this joy settles in your heart, then you know that it is well. It is well with you and the circumstances.
