The Complexities of Joy
We often talk about the depths of our sadness, our anger, our feelings of loss and betrayal, but do we talk about the depths of joy? It’s hard to describe. I think perhaps because it’s better experienced than talked about, but in this blog, I’d like to try.
Before we talk about joy, we should talk about its less-evolved, more immature brother: happiness. Now don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing inherently wrong with happiness, but it will only get you so far. Happiness is a fleeting, circumstantial burst when life goes right. While happiness can look like a five-year-old entering Disney World for the first time, it can also look like an addict's next hit. Happiness is constantly hungry and searching for its next source to keep it fueled, and it’s not loyal.
What if happiness is better experienced in the moment rather than chased?
Should we be chasing something so fleeting though? Is it worth your energy and time to chase something that will never stop running? Maybe the chase is fun, but how long before you’re winded? What if happiness is better experienced in the moment rather than chased? Happiness is exciting, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with it, but like everything else, it has a place. Don’t allow fleeting happiness to take a higher priority over deeply rooted joy.
Joy is loyal: if you choose it, it will always choose you back. Joy stays as long as you want it to stay. It may take some work to keep joy around, but all good and healthy relationships do. Its roots will grow and you’ll find yourself more satisfied with embracing joy rather than chasing happiness.
Joy picks you up off the floor, shows you tomorrow’s sunlight, and allows you to experience that sunlight today.
Joy is a well-trained dog that’s always excited to see you when you come home. Joy is remembering when you found out you’re pregnant when your toddler throws their worst tantrum yet. Joy is a steady rock of hope in the midst of your greatest heartbreak. Joy is a tight hug and a shoulder to cry on when you feel like giving up but know that you won’t. Joy is looking years back into your life and piecing together how God intricately and intentionally set your path and guided your steps to bring you to a place of deep fulfillment and purpose. Joy doesn’t always mean you’ll feel happy in the moment (though you can), but it means that you can also experience peace and hope amidst the storms in your life. Joy picks you up off the floor, shows you tomorrow’s sunlight, and allows you to experience that sunlight today. Rather than chasing happiness, choose and cultivate joy instead.
As I write this, I’ve done a few things to get into my headspace: I turn my diffuser on, make myself a glass of whipped coffee, play worship music in the background, and then sit by my bedroom window. Only then am I in a headspace to write. These tasks slow my mind down from all the other noise so I can write something that honors God and hopefully speaks to you, Reader, because what brings me joy is doing exactly this.