Soul Deep Happiness
But in this world everything is upside down. That which, if it could be prolonged here, would be a truancy, is likest that which in a better country is the End of ends. Joy is the serious business of Heaven.
– C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer (emphasis mine)
Joy and happiness are often times distinguished from one another and maybe with good reason. I’ve heard more than once the idea that happiness is connected to our “happenings” and is therefore different from joy which is a bliss unconnected to our happenings. In the simplest sense I can see this helping us. If you have a bad day, you are not happy but, you can, and still should have joy that comes from Jesus. But, I’ve found the distinction confusing because the expression of joy and happiness are not able to be teased apart. Consider this definition of joy from Merriam-Webster: 1a: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires: DELIGHT
b: the expression or exhibition of such emotion : GAIETY 2: a state of happiness or felicity : BLISS 3: a source or cause of delight
I found this definition helpful because, with it I can see how Jesus gives joy. In His saving work, I am given good fortune, a source of delight, the prospect of possessing what I desire. This isn’t about whitewashing heartache or pain, loss or tragedy. No, it is that God, in His Son, has overcome all such things and extends to us the possibility of joy in the midst of this messy life. Depression is real. Sadness is real. Tragedy and pain and unexplainable, unspeakable loss are all part of our day to day lives. But, none of them erase the Gospel. None of them is greater than the God who promises to one day wipe every tear from our eye and end the darkness forever. Joy is soul deep happiness. It is not necessarily different from happiness rather it is deeper, more foundational. It resides in the unchangeable realities of a God who came to rescue and save. My joy rests on a salvation, given to me, which has changed my fortunes forever. What a gift! So no, I don’t want us to go about as grinning idiots who refuse to acknowledge all that has gone wrong. Rather, I want to be among those who can say to myself and to the broken and hurting world around me, “Oh, but there is One who has come to rescue and save! His salvation is stronger than death and Hell. There is no sadness that will have the last word.” The Lord has come and His blessings flow far as the curse is found. Joy to the world, indeed.
Further Resources:
More on defining Joy: John Piper helpfully gives a definition of Christian joy which you can read or watch here.
Music for rejoicing: Phil Wickham, Joy to the World! (Joyful, Joyful) (Don’t worry I won’t tell anyone if you sing along!) Incidentally, Isaac Watts who penned the lyrics for Joy to the World! wrote them as a poem reflecting on Psalm 98, in light of Jesus’ salvation[i]. enJOY!
Reminder that our WEDnesday service for December 18 will be a serve night. Hope to see you there @ 6 pm in the main building!
[i] https://www.crossway.org/articles/a-brief-history-of-joy-to-the-world/