Are you happy? That's a pretty loaded question. Right now, it's cold and rainy and snowy (at least where I live). At least when it's snowing during December, you think to yourself, "It's Christmas! Yea!" Then January and February it...it's just depressing at that point.
Maybe you're going through a rough time in your life. Maybe you've lost your job. Maybe you've lost a loved one recently. Maybe you feel lost in life. These things can effect your happiness.
You see, happiness is an emotion. And like all emotions, they come and go. Sometimes you're happy. Other times you're sad...or angry...or hurt...or indifferent. Emotions change as frequently as the weather. And, if we allow them to, can affect our lives dramatically, causing us to question a lot of things in life.
You see, we feel we are "entitled" to the pursuit of "happiness," as our forefathers once wrote. But is "happiness" what we should be pursuing? I say no. Why pursue an emotion that will fade? You might as well dedicate your life in pursuit of an ice cream cone (I mean, come on, have you ever seen a mad person with an ice cream cone?). Ice cream is available in every town, on every street. It's easy to find. It's also just as easy to lose...
Instead, commit your life to the pursuit of joy. I know, you're thinking, "Aren't joy and happiness the same thing?" Answer: no way. Where happiness can give way to sadness, joy is also seeing the positive in difficult situations.
Read the Psalms. So many times you see David struggling with something, but in the end, he still has hope.
I don't know if you have ever been to a funeral before, but you can always tell when the deceased was a strong Christian. Sure the people are sad, but they have joy and hope in knowing that the person is in heaven with Jesus. That's what joy looks like. No matter what garbage you're going through, you can still see the positive. You know that there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.
Joy is one of Gods greatest gifts to us. It gets us through those tough times. It sustains our happiness. When our joy comes from God, we can be rest assured that no matter what lies ahead, good or bad, that God is in control.
I'll ask again: Are you happy?
Next question: Where does your joy come from?
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