Finding Joy

Paul wrote his letter to the Philippian church from a prison cell. He had no idea whether he was going to be exonerated or executed. He was writing to a group of people who were divided among themselves, confused by false teachers and surrounded by a culture that was hostile to their faith. Yet he repeatedly called them to be joyful.

That’s weird. Your leader is in jail, your church is divided, confused and persecuted and you’re supposed to be joyful. Seriously? But this isn’t the only place in the Bible where people are called to be joyful no matter what.

Jesus started it. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. ²³ “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. (Luke 6:22 – 23)

I’m sorry – if people hate you, exclude you, insult you and reject you, your circumstances stink. Those are awful circumstances. And yet, Jesus calls you to rejoice and leap for joy!

Here’s another one. In 2 Corinthians 7:4, Paul said – in all our troubles, my joy knows no bounds.

You would think that troubles would be the boundary line where joy stops and despair begins. Like the first sign of trouble is a literal sign that reads NO JOY BEYOND THIS POINT. But Paul’s joy jumped that boundary. It ignored that sign. His circumstances were awful but he still had joy.

Then there’s James (1:2 – 3). Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Okay, so something good may eventually come from our trials. But James says to count it as joy now. Before the trial ends. Before the good comes. And it’s not just any joy – it’s pure joy.

How is it possible to be joyful when you face gigantic problems, to rejoice when your life’s a wreck?

First, we need to be clear on what we mean by joy. When the Bible talks about joy it’s not talking about the kind of emotion you feel when you first walk through the gates at Disney. That’s fun.

Fun is more like a fix. Joy is a state.

Fun is temporary. Joy abides.

Fun is often expensive. Joy is free.

Fun can sometimes lead to unhappy consequences. Joy never leaves a bad taste and never has a hangover.

Fun and joy are not the same thing.

Neither is joy the emotion you feel when your team wins in the final seconds of the game. That’s excitement. Like fun, excitement is totally circumstantial. It depends on what is happening to you. Joy is all about what is happening in you. Excitement and joy are not the same.

Joy may be fun, but more often it is a feeling of peace even when circumstances are turbulent.

Joy may include excitement, but more often it is a feeling of confident hope even when circumstances are troubling.

Once we understand what joy is, we need to be clear about where it is. In Philippians 3:1, Paul gives us the address: Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!

The reason we can rejoice, even if our circumstances are mean, is because our joy is located not in what is happening to us, but in what has already happened for us.

If your joy is located in the comforts of your life, your joy will vanish when your life gets tough. And life always gets tough.

If your joy is located in your power, it will fade when your power does. And power always fades.

If your joy is located in your youth and vigor and health, it will decline as you age. Ever notice that some older folks seem to be so joyful, while others seem to be just angry at life? Maybe that’s because of where their joy is located.

If your joy is located in your own ability to live a righteous life, what’s going to happen when you fail? And you will. We all fall short of the glory of God.

When you have trouble finding your joy, maybe it’s because you are looking in the wrong place. It is hidden in an unlikely location.

Outside Jerusalem.

On the top of a hill.

Nailed to a cross.

The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus means that we are living in an eternal morning of God’s grace and favor. The past is forgiven. The future is protected. And because of that, we can know joy no matter what.