Henri Nouwen ( a Dutch Catholic Priest) says this about Joy.
“Joy is essential to the spiritual life. Whatever we may think of or say about God, our thoughts and words cannot bear fruit when we are not joyful. Jesus reveals to us God’s love so that his joy may become ours and that our joy may become complete. Joy is the experience of knowing that you are unconditionally loved and that nothing—sickness, failure, emotional distress, oppression, war, or even death—can take that love away.”
Happiness is not the same as Joy. Happiness is an emotion that can disappear as rapidly as it appears. But Joy is a choice. We could be unhappy about many things but still have joy. Joy does not simply happen. It comes from the knowledge of God’s love for us, and it is a choice we must make every day.
We need to choose joy. We choose it because we have life, refuge, and strength in God, and nothing, not even death, can separate us from His love.
The thing is, life is going to bring us problems. the Bible tells us that in this world, we will have troubles. What matters is the knowledge that Jesus has overcome the world.
We must remind ourselves of this, seeing as we are frail human beings, prone to wander and leave the God we love. We look at others with their happy lives and assume that it’s easy for them to be joyful because everything is going their way. So, with envy and frustration in our hearts, we compare our lives to others, ending up complaining and whining. We consider our lives as depressing and sorrowful instead of choosing to be thankful for the many ways God has blessed us.
It’s not that others are lucky and we are unlucky. We can choose to be unhappy, or we can choose joy. Circumstances for everyone are not the same. God has not promised everyone the exact same blessings, but HE is the same God yesterday, today, and forever. We can choose to trust Him, choose joy despite the challenging times, or choose to complain, allowing our bitterness and despair to consume us.
It is for us that God reminds us, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” ( Nehemiah 8:10).
Luke 2:8-12 says, “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
When the Angels announced Jesus’s birth, they said that the Joy of the Lord would be for ALL people. It was not just for a specific group of people or one culture, class, or status. It was for ALL. Jesus’s birth would bring us joy.
Those who went and found the Christ child, the shepherds( the poorest of the poor), the wise men who brought Him gifts saw the star and were overjoyed. They found the baby, and they worshipped Him.
For all these people, their joy was found when they found Jesus. If we seek and search for Him and pursue Him today, we will find our Joy.
Are we actively pursuing Christ? Are we noticing the things He is doing in our lives? Are we desperately seeking to know Him, understand Him, and spend time in Him and with Him?
Or are we so busy comparing our lives to others, complaining about our lot in life, and being miserable?
When we start to seek God and turn our hearts to Him, we will find Joy. Joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit, an emotion that is the outflow of the Spirit moving in our hearts.
So, as we celebrate the third Sunday of Advent, let us rejoice with the shepherds and the wise men. Let us trust in Him and find joy even in situations that can cause us to fear and worry, knowing that He will take care of us no matter what.
Questions to reflect:
Am I actively pursuing God daily? Do I find my contentment in Him?
Why do I compare myself to others? Do I find myself complaining all the time?
What have I not surrendered to God, and why do I fear giving up control?