The Advent of Christ - Journey to Joy

“Be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ.”
 1 Thessalonians 5:16.

In trying to better understand God’s will for my life, I wrestled with “rejoicing always.” This journey to joy arose from the conflict of my definition of joy and what I have come to understand it to truly be. Early in my walk of faith, my definition of joy was like that of a carefree child who becomes elated by the simple activities and attractions of life to the point that their whole being displays delight and gaiety. This perception of joy conflicted with my God-given, more pensive, sedate personality and the fact that there is much in life that subdues joy. My struggle was if joy is one of the fruits of the spirit and I’m not feeling joy, is there something out of sync in my relationship with the Holy Spirit? While I was learning that the other fruits are always in need of pruning and growing, it was joy that I questioned the most.

I liken this journey to that of the wise men following the star to Bethlehem without a map. Like many lessons we learn in our walks of faith, this journey to joy has taken time. A journey is not only about reaching a destination; it’s about the experiences and what we learn along the way. Like many of life’s journeys to resolve conflict and find peace, my “star” became the search to understand God’s definition of joy. I found that it is an emotion that comes from an enduring attitude of heart and spirit trusting in God’s promises. So, like love…joy is a choice. It’s a choice to “lean not on my own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5), a choice to accept that I don’t have to be happy about a circumstance to have joy; a choice to accept that “Joy is not the absence of sadness or the presence of the spectacular. It’s the understanding of God’s goodness in every season” (Tauren Wells).  

My journey has led me to the destination of a more mature definition of joy…“Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.” (Kay Warren, “Choose Joy Because Happiness Isn’t Enough”). Authentic inner joy comes from spiritual re-birth and from enjoying God while finding something to be grateful in each day.
 
The joy of the Lord has become my strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and I can embrace God’s will to “Be joyful always…”.