Happiness is a feeling. Joy is an attitude. A posture. A position. A place…
I cannot choose to be strong, but I can choose to be joyful. And when I am willing to do that, strength will follow. –Tim Hansel
so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
— Colossians 1:10-12
Joy is that abiding fruit of the Spirit that pours forth regardless of the circumstance in which we find ourselves. It is the by-product of the knowledge of a believer in Christ who understands they have become utterly one with the One who is joy’s source; that indeed they have come into G_d’s presence, and in that glorious place is joy’s fullness.
This knowledge that brings joy, gives birth to an unequaled and unending measure of strength. It gives us all the endurance and patience we need to continue through whatever G_d has set before us.
The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful
—for he cannot deny himself.
— 2 Timothy 2:10-12
It seems to this writer that joy is a key to the passage above. His joy gives us the strength to endure. And in denying the knowledge of Him, joy is unavailable to enable us to endure. Joy is a vital element of G_d’s grace. Without it, we could not carry on as required to reach the Day when we will reign with Him. So, Christ’s work on the cross and our crucifixion with Him, brings life. The knowledge of this brings joy – and thus strength to endure. And even when we have trouble believing the truth, He carries us through to the end. Our failures do not negate who He is, and the work He has done.
Joy, too, is a self-feeding and self-reinforcing process. His joy gives us strength, and as we grow through the trials of life and towards Him in our walk, our joy increases… which gives us more strength to keep walking closer to Him. And so on. Really good stuff.
Ever wonder how people like Mother Teresa made it through decades in desperate situations? No need to wonder any more. Only in the joy of the L_RD does their strength reside.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.
Ascribe to the LORD, O clans of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
–1 Chronicles 16:26-28
