Thursday, 04 December 2008
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Joyfulness: Selfish or a Necessity?
by miss goldenrod 
"Joy as a category seem[s]...irrelevant. Nice but unessential. Like owning a hot tub. And distant too. The hot tub is in Fiji. Wouldn't it be nice? Ain't going to happen. Life's not really about joy. I've got all this stuff that has to get done. ... Joy? Life's about surviving--and getting little pleasure." John Elderedge, Walking with God.
I was so relieved when I read this and found that a man like Eldredge is as dubious on the topic of joy as I am. He came to the conclusion that it is indeed a necessity, that the Bible speaks of it as one, but I didn't see it. Even with his Biblical references, I couldn't make my mind accept that joy is all that important; and as my mind couldn't reason through it, I didn't think to consult my heart.
Of all the things I have to grow in, joy is not on my list. It's a luxury, nice to experience but nothing to count on... not even a thing to pursue. If all the Christian perks in the Bible were items to be purchased, I'm shopping at Target for essentials like patience, wisdom, and love. Joy can be only found at Bergdorf Goodman, and locked behind glass at that. I can't afford to spend my time on a quest for joy, not when I need the others so much more. We can live without joy; most of already do. After all, it doesn't pay the bills.
I admit, I've felt brief periods of joy, and it's wonderful. There was a day this autumn when I climbed out of my car and saw a bright yellow maple standing alone against a brilliant blue sky...and I felt it gurgling up from my chest and rising to a laugh. But to think I could actually experience that every day, throughout the day...maybe all day? Ridiculous.
As I was writing this, I felt the Holy Spirit hitting me upside my head with his giant foam bat, and I heard, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." "Fruit is" Paul says...not "fruits are". These blessings are a package deal, so why indeed do we think joy is something we shouldn't pursue...or accept, as the case truly stands?
I brought this issue to God a few weeks ago because I don't see joy as being important. Perhaps because of all the fruit[s] of the Spirit, joy is selfish. It seems like a naughty drug in comparison to the others, the fruit that benefits ourselves more than it does those around us.
But God remembered my prayer, of course, and while reading a psalm, I saw this: "The Lord is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. Psalm 28:6-7, NLT
Indeed, each time I think of how God has helped me, how he answers my forgotten prayers, I'm happy. When God showed me this verse, I began to see what Eldredge came to understand, that perhaps joy is something we should expect...just by way of knowing Jesus. We don't deny the other items in God's fruit basket, the ones that help others but demand sacrifice of our flesh; so why refuse the one which our flesh actually craves?
What is joy, and where do you find it? Do you consider yourself a joyful person?
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Comments (14)
I'm thinking that people who see me and even have several conversations with me probably would be unlikely to use the word "joyful" to describe me. However, I find that I am joyful...even "joyful always" as Paul tells us we are to be, simply because I know I have been given the gift of eternal life. What life I have here today is short and absolute rubbish compared to the glory God has awaiting me in eternity. And that is my joy. Even on my darkest days, when everything is going wrong and I just want to crawl in bed and cry, I am joyful because I remember that this life is fleeting, and I will meet Jesus face to face SOON! Halleluiah!
Joy is more so a thinking process than a feeling:
Jesus first, Others second, & Yourself last.
A few years ago I prayed to have joy. Immediately after that, I faced a difficult trial, but when I came through the trial, I found joy. At the same time, God showed me this verse-- "You have made known to me the paths of life, you will fill me with joy in your presence." Acts 2:28.
Since then, God filled me with joy and I truly began to understand what it is. It is different than happiness. Joy is something that is constant--even when circumstances are unhappy or you are unhappy, joy is always there as a constant.
I think it is more than just a feeling--it is more of an outlook. It's like you have a positive outlook on everything and there isn't too much that can change your outlook. Even if you are unhappy for a little while, you know that in the end, everything will still be okay.
I've struggled with being joyful and having the joy of the Lord. I don't consider myself a joyful person, but I know that Jesus has told us He has come so our joy might be full. God's joy isn't rooted in our circumstances or in our feelings, but in God Himself.
Earlier this fall when I was reading Psalm 86 (NKJV) and it really began to hit me: Joy comes when I remember that I can cry out to God/ lift up my soul to God (v. 3-4) because God is good, ready to forgive and abundant to mercy (v. 5). In fact, the David says that God is the one who rejoices/gladdens/makes glad our souls (v. 4). Joy is a gift from God and I am open to His joy bubbling up in me when I keep my mind fixed on my God and HIs goodness to me in Christ.
Psalm 86:1-5:
(I'd encourage you to read the entire Psalm but here are the first 5 verses.)
Bow down Your ear, O LORD, hear me;
For I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am holy;
You are my God;
Save Your servant who trusts in You!
3 Be merciful to me, O Lord,
For I cry to You all day long.
4 Rejoice the soul of Your servant,
For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
I don't think I would consider myself a joyful person, which is sad. I think it's really sad when it is the case that we feel that joy is not a necessity, not something on the top of our lists. I think it probably should be, since life would be so much better with joy....but I know that I don't always have it.
From the Amplified version: James 1:2 Consider it wholly joyful, my brethern, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.
3: Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.
defenitly a necessity. But, I think joy looks different in all of us. Some express it outwardly, others may express joy in a way that seems more like contentness to others.
As mentioned, the fruit of the spirit is one... just as we need to have self control, or show love, or be faithful ... we need to be joyful.
I assoicate joy with happiness and believe happiness is really part of living life fully.
Joy is a much apart of life as anger, sadness, frustration, and depression. But I think if we have the ability to always see God in our lives, then joy will be easier to find.
What is Joy? It's a product of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. You find it in G-d since it derives from his Spirit. I think it is a fruit that has been made real in my life, yeah.
I absolutely think I am a joyful person
God desires for us to have joy. but not just that, he desires to BE our joy.
I believe that joy is a necessity... but beyond that... joy isnt just a necessity. it should be the natural result of us seeking God and abiding in him. Joy is not selfish because our joy is, and should be, from God alone. and without Joy in the Lord, we cant fully or truly experience joy from other things within our lives.
John 15 9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
Joyfulness is often confused with happiness. They aren't necessarily the same! Jesus says in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you." As a Christian, I have peace from Jesus Christ. Does that mean there is complete peace in the world? Or that my home or life always seems peaceful? No - but Jesus says we have peace, His peace, which is not the same as the world gives. Even in times of chaos, there is a peace, because of the presence of Jesus and His Spirit inside me.
It's the same with joyfulness. Really bad things happen sometimes. We are not happy all the time, and we do not feel joyful all the time. Still, the fruit of the Spirit contains joy, and that means we have it. Whether we "feel" it or not - Jesus says we have it.
Looking at a sunset or something else in God's creation and feeling that smile come on - true - that is joy. It makes my heart sing to see those things. Still, joy doesn't only exist in those kinds of moments. When things seem to get out of kilter in life, there is a true joy in knowing we serve a God who is never-changing and never stumbles or gets off balance, even when we do. In the midst of national and international troubles, we as Christians should have joy that our God is alive, and is in control.
Joy isn't about us having "good feelings." It is about Christ, and what He has given us!
I really like John Piper for this topic.
He popularized the saying "God is most glorified in me, when I am most satisfied in Him."
Our pursue for our delight and God's glory, are one in the same.
www.desiringGod.org there are tons of sermons, books, etc on this topic. Piper calls it Christian Hedonism.
Very biblical, very powerful, high recommend it!
my joy is in Christ. im extremely joyful. im not always happy but i maintain a pleasant spirit and can laugh in even the toughest of times. its gotten me through life. it is truly a necessity. and i remind myself and others daily that no one can take it away.