Some say that happiness is dependent on the circumstances around you, while joy is dependent on your contentment in spite of your circumstances. Others describe happiness as an outward expression when good things happen, while joy is a steady state of our spirits whether good things or not-so-good things happen. Or we could say that happiness is having our eyes focused on ourselves while joy is having our hearts focused on Jesus.
This has been a good week for me to cling to joy in the midst of a number of happenings that had the potential to squelch my happiness. Sick kids, interrupted nights, busy schedules, looming responsibilities ... all with the capacity to turn my days upside down.
But knowing that Jesus was present in the midst of all that stuff ... well, that made smiling possible.
Even if I had someone else's snot on my shirt.
Joy. Smiling while swamped in Blurgland.
"May my children be filled with the
joy given by the Holy Spirit."
1 Thessalonians 1:6
Oh...I need to learn joy better. I don't think anyone would call me joyful. I try though. Try to see the joy and stay focused on Jesus in it all. Thank you for this great reminder and the new word!
ReplyDelete