Can you choose joy this Advent season?
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Joy! Yeah, yeah, I got it!
Transformation Crusade, J.O.Y. (Journey of Yahweh) from the Forefront Record Christmas album Yo! Ho Ho!
Joy! And I just can’t hide it!
I want to say that joy is a complicated thing. But it really isn’t. We probably don’t understand it very much, though. Well, I don’t understand it, anyway. Here’s what I can tell you…
It’s not just happiness
“Joy is often equated with happiness, but the two are quite distinct. Happiness depends largely upon happenings: good health, congenial company, pleasant surroundings, etc. Happiness and unhappiness do not exist together; but joy and sorrow can and do.”
“Joy” in the Pictorial Bible Dictionary with Topical Index
It’s easy to get joy and happiness confused. Isn’t it? They have similar definitions. And happiness is generally used to describe joy.. But they’re not synonyms. We’re not talking about an emotion like happiness is. It’s something…deeper. It’s a full heart regardless of life’s circumstances.
This is why Paul and Silas could rejoice while sitting in jail. It’s why the letter from James says to “consider it pure joy” when your life faces trials, persecution, and difficulty (James 1:2-4). It allows you to have both a full heart and a broken heart at the same time. Happiness and sorrow cannot coexist. Joy and sorrow can. Because it doesn’t depend on what’s going on around you.
The world can be on fire all around you and you can still have a full heart. You can be broken, but still have joy. Because it’s deeply rooted in who God is, not on the circumstances that surround us.
You can’t fake joy
I can be good at faking happiness. I do it a lot. You probably do, too. Just look at our social media timelines (when we’re not talking about politics). I can put on a happy face and pretend to be merry and cheerful all the day long. I can even convince myself that I’m happy sometimes. But that eventually runs out of steam. You can only fake merriness and happiness for so long before you wear yourself out. It also tends to wear out everyone around you, too.
Much like peace, Paul lists joy as one of the hallmarks of the life of a follower of Jesus. It’s the fruit that naturally grows out of a Spirit-led, Spirit-filled life. And so because of the working of the Holy Spirit within the lives of Jesus’ followers, we can rejoice in the Lord. Always. In all circumstances. No matter what is thrown our way.
You want to choose joy? Choose to draw near to the One who stepped out of heaven and became a baby, was wrapped in swaddling clothes, and was placed in a feeding trough for farm animals. He brought joy to the world 2,000 years ago. And he brings it to the world today.
It’s really that simple. Isn’t it?
Advent playlist
I’ve gathered some songs that speak about rejoicing and giving glory to God in all circumstances. I hope it encourages you to spend some time rejoicing this week – regardless of what you’re going through.
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