“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” These are the words of Catholic theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.
Are you a joyful person? I didn’t say are you a happy person. Happiness depends on what happens to you. Joy is something very different.
In the encyclopedia of Christianity we read:
In a Christian lifestyle joy is an expression of a special quality of being that can be gained and brought to our awareness from a trust in God and love for others. To do so, we must differentiate the illusory joy of mere pleasure or enjoyment, which is fleeting, from true joy.[1]
You see true joy is not simply about pleasure or enjoyment what about a confident relationship with God.
The apostle Paul knew this. One day he was thrown in a Philippian jail. He and his partner Silas were beaten to a bloody pulp. In the book of Acts we read that they sang hymns to the Lord.
No wonder he could write these words to the Philippians while he was imprisoned:
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
No I’m not saying you should be happy when things go poorly. If we look at the circumstances around us, often times they are very discouraging and unhappy.
But if we change our perspective, and look up, And see a God who loves and cares for us, even when we’re going through dark valleys, we can still experience what the Bible calls joy.
You see, it’s the Lord’s joy that he gives us. In Nehemiah, we read “the joy of the Lord is our strength.”
Listen to these words Jesus prayed before going to the cross:
I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.[2]
He wants us to have joy.
[1] Fahlbusch, E., & Bromiley, G. W. (1999-2003). Vol. 3: The encyclopedia of Christianity (79). Grand Rapids, MI; Leiden, Netherlands: Wm. B. Eerdmans; Brill.
[2] The Holy Bible: Today's New International Version. 2005 (Jn 17:13). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Are you a joyful person? I didn’t say are you a happy person. Happiness depends on what happens to you. Joy is something very different.
In the encyclopedia of Christianity we read:
In a Christian lifestyle joy is an expression of a special quality of being that can be gained and brought to our awareness from a trust in God and love for others. To do so, we must differentiate the illusory joy of mere pleasure or enjoyment, which is fleeting, from true joy.[1]
You see true joy is not simply about pleasure or enjoyment what about a confident relationship with God.
The apostle Paul knew this. One day he was thrown in a Philippian jail. He and his partner Silas were beaten to a bloody pulp. In the book of Acts we read that they sang hymns to the Lord.
No wonder he could write these words to the Philippians while he was imprisoned:
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
No I’m not saying you should be happy when things go poorly. If we look at the circumstances around us, often times they are very discouraging and unhappy.
But if we change our perspective, and look up, And see a God who loves and cares for us, even when we’re going through dark valleys, we can still experience what the Bible calls joy.
You see, it’s the Lord’s joy that he gives us. In Nehemiah, we read “the joy of the Lord is our strength.”
Listen to these words Jesus prayed before going to the cross:
I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.[2]
He wants us to have joy.
[1] Fahlbusch, E., & Bromiley, G. W. (1999-2003). Vol. 3: The encyclopedia of Christianity (79). Grand Rapids, MI; Leiden, Netherlands: Wm. B. Eerdmans; Brill.
[2] The Holy Bible: Today's New International Version. 2005 (Jn 17:13). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
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