Can There Be Joy?

       I have always been an observer of life and of people, so wherever I go, I find interesting things to witness.  There was a dark time in my life when one thing bothered me (because of the perpetual misery I was in) and that was joy.  I remember how painful it was to watch a Mom or Dad playing with their young child, both laughing with joy, and it felt like a million knives were chopping at my heart and gut, ripping them apart.  Perhaps you never felt that way before, but you were bothered by people who always seemed happy.  Can there be people like that or are they living in a false ‘happy bubble’?

       What I have observed over time leads me to say that question is a complex one to answer.  First off, there are those in life who have never been through very difficult times; they are naïve about suffering, often oblivious to the pain in others, and therefore usually happy based on easiness of their own environmental factors.  That was me before I was married and my only dream was shattered.  Of course, there are also fakers who wear happiness like a mask when the reality is they are suffering like the rest of us.  These people are fairly easy to spot.

        There are those who seem a bit manic depressive because one day when all is going well they are happy, the next day when some things go wrong, they are miserable.  Others, who are constantly under heavy stress and trials, seem to never have joy in their lives, and often are envious of others who have it.  So, what is it that makes the difference of true or false joy?

       The thing I have finally learned is happiness isn’t worth much.  It comes and goes with the stresses and trials of life and therefore it is transitory.  On the other hand, joy can remain through the toughest of times and even tragedies.  Why?  Because joy is not based on environmental factors whether good or bad, but on a person- Jehovah God.

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.  Ps. 5:11 (underline is mine.)

Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.  Ps. 32:11

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Ps. 16:11

Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart…  Is. 65:14

Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.  Jer. 31:13

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  Hab. 3:18

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.  Rm. 5:11

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.  Rm. 14:17

       We can have joy everyday, not in the bad things that happen, but joy in God who is with us always, who has saved us from our sins and given us hope of a glorious, suffering free future.  Hope in our God who loves us dearly, enough to allow His Son to die for our sins, and who ripped the veil of separation between us open so that we can be in His presence daily.  We can have joy in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit no matter what is happening in our lives or how deep and dark the trials around us for He is with us even in the darkest times (Ps. 23:4).  He will give us strength to endure, “…for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Neh. 8:10).  Joy in Him can be ours, here and now!

But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Cor. 15:57