The last few weeks leading up to Christmas I have written about the wonderful blessings Jesus Christ makes possible for all who trust in him. We lifted the lid on the treasure trove of his incarnation to discover love, hope, grace, and peace that surpass anything this world offers. However, one blessing I didn’t feel inspired to write about was joy. Traditionally joy is celebrated at Christmas. It is one of the four themes of Advent which helps us thank God for the coming of Jesus. This includes both the first arrival of Jesus when he came as a suffering servant to save sinners, as well as, when he will return in the future as a conquering king who will vanquish evil and restore all righteousness. I resisted writing about joy because frankly I have struggled to be joyful lately. I don’t know exactly why, but part of it has been weariness, busyness, being burdened by evil in this world, uncertainty about the future, and suffering within my extended family. Yet when I step back and reflect on this past year and the upcoming one I want to thank God even for difficulties, give my concerns to him, and receive his joy.

Joy Is Greater Than Happiness

God’s joy runs much deeper and is more abiding than a temporary feeling of happiness. Happiness is an emotion that ebbs and flows with the tide of circumstances. In many ways God’s divine joy defies understanding, but that doesn’t alter its reality. When I consider what steals my joy, I realize it comes from a misplaced focus. When experiences are hard or painful, when other people let me down or when I let myself down, when things don’t work out they way I hoped then many times I’m left with a a feeling of unfulfillment. Yet my joy should not be based on all evil stopping and all good working out. That’s a joy defined by my desires being satisfied. Thus it is destined to fall short in this fallen world of broken people. Fortunately God’s joy works differently. His joy is based on himself—his omniscient, almighty, holy, benevolent, and ever faithful character. The Bible teaches that those who delight in him receive the desires of their hearts (Psalm 37:3-6). By making God your focus and the source of your joy, you can endure hardship and disappointment because his grace, love, and power deliver you through it, if not from it. He shows you that eventually he will work all things together for your good as he promised he would (Romans 8:28). In the process he transforms your character to become more like Jesus, which is the greatest blessing.

Joy Is Relational and Intentional, Not Circumstantial

Moving forward I want to base my joy on God and not my circumstances or self-centered desires. To do that God has shown me a few truths from his word, the Bible, which I plan on practicing with his help.

• Joy comes from letting go, not striving. When a remnant of Jews returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon, Nehemiah led them along with Ezra, the priest. Despite facing opposition they rebuilt the wall around the city. Upon completing it, Nehemiah gathered them together. Ezra read from God’s law and Nehemiah told them, “This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Even though they labored to build a wall, and even though enemies still surrounded them, Nehemiah refocused their hearts. He told them not to rejoice in their achievement, or the protection of the wall itself, or to despair about what’s around them beyond the wall. He encouraged them to find joy in God and God’s love and providence for them. God would be their strength, not their striving, as they rebuilt their community and nation. God would be their protection not their aptitude or vigilance. The same is true for me and you. Let go of trying to make your own joy. Let go of concerns that are stealing your joy. Instead give these issues to God and rely on him. In return, you will experience his strength, contentment, and joy. The apostle Paul enocuraged believers to do this, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7).
• Joy comes from aligning your will and your way with God’s will and his way. God is perfect in character and deed. Therefore his will, his actions, and his timing are trustworthy, good, and flawless. In Psalm 19, David, king of Israel, recognized the glory of God and his word. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands…The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous” (Psalm 19:1, 7-9). God’s design for this world and for you is far better than anything you could achieve on your own. In fact, this is the wisdom that Jesus taught his followers. He said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:23-26). Place your hope, loyalty, trust and obedience in God by faith and you will discover joy as he reveals is plans for you and develops his character in you.
• Joy comes from looking forward with God. In stepping down from heaven to humbly take on flesh as a man, Jesus experienced tremendous disappointment and betrayal from people, extreme temptation to exert his will over God the Father’s will, unimaginable suffering in bearing God’s wrath for the sins of the world, and incredible grief from being forsaken by God. Yet he willingly endured it all because he knew it would bring God glory and it would enable people to be saved (Hebrews 12:1-3; John 10:18). From a human perspective when Jesus died on the cross his message, his miracles, and his mission seemed like a colossal failure. If he couldn’t save himself, then how would anyone else be saved? But that was never the case from God’s perspective. He sovereignly sees the whole picture across eternity, while we are limited by space, time, and finite wisdom. Jesus’ death was not a failure, but rather it was a necessary step toward glory. On the third day after Jesus’ crucifixion everything changed. God raised Jesus from the dead, just as he promised. Jesus conquered sin, death, and Satan. His victory verified his divinity, his teachings, and the forgiveness, restoration, and everlasting life he imparts to all who trust him to save them. After Jesus appeared to them, his disciples went from hiding in fear for their lives to boldly and joyfully proclaiming the truth about him, even though nearly every one of them would be martyred for their faith. The same is true today. As many believers suffer or are killed for their faith they are filled with joy, because they are pleased to know God now and to help others do the same. Also they are convinced that just as it was for Jesus, the end of their life on earth is just the beginning of a more glorious life forever with God (John 14:19). Don’t let your sin or the sin of others bury you in despair and separation from God. Confess any wrongdoing. Receive his forgiveness. Then move forward asking him to show you and enable you to live rightly (1 John 1:9; Psalm 139:23-24). Look beyond the temporary troubles of today to find joy in God’s presence now and even greater fellowship with him later when Jesus brings you home or returns to make all things right (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

Conclusion

This coming year I challenge you to do more than to just pursue happiness. Will you join me in discovering joy in God, along with love, hope, grace, and peace? You can by trusting in Jesus to save you from your self-centeredness, to forgive your wrongdoing, and to lead you in a new life of following him. His way is gentle and lowly, full of grace and truth, and marked by loving kindness, peace, and joy (Matthew 11:28-30). Trusting and obeying Jesus brings divine joy because it looks forward to the fulfillment of all God’s promises. If you believe in him, Jesus’ resurrection is a foreshadow of how God will transform you. The Bible contrasts life on your own apart from God as terminal versus life with God as everlasting, “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body…Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 58). Someday soon in God’s perfect timing, Jesus will return to reward believers. He’ll put an end to death and destruction, to sorrow and suffering, and to hate and harm. Believers will reign with Jesus in a new heaven and a new earth joyfully serving God as a part of his royal family (Revelation 19:11-21:8). Until then, each day thank God for his many blessings in Jesus and share them with others. Take Jesus by the hand and let him lead you with joy through moments, relationships, and decisions that may be difficult or painful, but always redemptive. 

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