What is JOY?

Joy supersedes circumstance.

Joy is a state of being – not a temporary reaction to ones circumstances.

{photo source: DaySpring}

Joy is found through obedience to Christ – in living a transformed life in radical connection and obedience to God. Richard Foster suggests that the source of joy is found in obedience to Christ, and obedience results in greater joy. According to Katie Brazelton, "One of the biggest discoveries of a [person's] life is learning to differentiate between the concepts of happiness and joy. Happiness is... temporal. Joy is different. It comes from having Jesus in your heart… The secret to everlasting joy (instead of temporary happiness) is choosing to be content in Christ whatever his wishes, whatever the circumstances."

{photo source: DaySpring}

Foster also states: “Scripture commands us to live in a spirit of thanksgiving in the midst of all situations; it does not command us to celebrate the presence of evil." Sorrow is a response to circumstances. Joy is a decision to set ones mind on “the higher things of life.” Sorrow is momentary (in light of all of life and eternity to come), but joy is eternal.

Philippians is the book of the Bible where I immediately turn when talking about joy. Paul is in prison, on death row, and yet he is full of joy – to the point that it spills onto the page. This is the kind of joy I want to have – the joy that can only come from knowing Jesus and finding complete fulfillment in Him:

• 1.4 “always offering prayer with joy”
• 1.18 “in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice.”
• 1.25 “joy in the faith”
• 2.2 “make my joy complete”
• 2.18 “rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me”
• 2.29 “receive him… with all joy”
• 3.1 “rejoice in the Lord”
• 4.4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”
• 4.10 “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly”

Where do you find YOUR joy?