Happiness is a flighty guest. We can’t count on it to stick around. Even when we make up a room in our home and hang a sign on the door, “For Happiness, only,” it’s rarely occupied. Even when Happiness comes to visit, it often slips away without us even noticing.
A better guest to invite in is Joy.
Merriam-Webster says joy is the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune… or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.
Read that like it says it. We don’t have to have what we desire to know joy. Just thinking about it can uplift us emotionally.
Joy will come to visit and stick around if we’re filled with anticipation over an upcoming event. Our guest room will be kept in constant use.
Romans 12:12 tells us our joy in Christ comes from hoping for his return, not from what he does for us in the present.
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
James 1:2 says our trials in life can’t kick joy out of our house.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.”
Philippians 4:4 shows us how to find joy. We lift our voices in praise.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”
Galatians 5:22 reveals the infilling of the Spirit as giving us joy.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”
John 16:24 tells us our answered prayers will bring us joy.
“Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
Psalm 4:7 points to our relationship with God as our source of joy.
“You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.”
1 Peter 1:8 names salvation as our ultimate path to joy. When we believe on an unseen Christ and trust him to be our salvation, our joy will flow from our firm faith in him.
“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.”
Happiness is overrated. It’s fun, but it’s here and gone. Let’s make up our guest room for Joy, a friend who’ll stick around for a very long time.
Our ongoing joy comes from the prospect of one day residing at the side of our Master in Glory.
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