Joy Appreciation 101

If you have been hanging out in these emails for any length of time you likely know that I am anti-joy-and-happiness-being-classified-as-the-same-thing.

It’s a niche issue but I have strong feelings.

Mostly because they are NOT THE SAME.

Happy is good. We all like happy. We all want happy. But how often is that the reality?

Sometimes. But rarely. And that’s how it’s supposed to be. 

You might be thinking what? Why do you say that? Aren’t we supposed to be happy?

Yes. Absolutely. We are created for happiness. That’s why we have both the capacity and the desire for it. But happy isn’t here. Happy is supposed to be the invisible thread gently and consistently pulling us towards heaven - the only culmination of the happiness we crave - the complete, unfiltered presence of a God that we both love and choose in the fullness of our free will. That is HAPPY.

But Joy on the other hand - Joy lives here. 

Joy is the birthright of the reborn in Christ. It is a side effect of knowing Him and loving Him, and letting Him live in you. 

It’s like the difference between “falling in love” and being married. 

Falling in love is ecstatic and happy and this world just can’t sustain it for very long. The feelings settle eventually. But being married is an invitation to a sustainable version of “falling in love” - one that also requires your will, but is deeply sustainable if you approach it arm in arm with Christ. 

My prayer for you this week is that you approach your life seeking happiness in heaven and joy today. God wants it all for us, but His timing is key.