How can it be possible to have Joy…YET be unhappy?

As I continue on these thoughts on “happiness” I want to make sure we do not shy away from the difficult questions. All of us…I know I have…asked how can a person have Joy, yet be unhappy? It’s a fair question, but the answer is not complicated, it is simple. Remember, “simple” does not equal “easy” God’s revealed Truth is simple, but much of it is hard for us because we either resist it in our flesh, or it requires submission, which our pride does not like…at least that is my struggle.

The beginning of our problem we have already looked at, it has to do with our understanding of the two words. So for review just remember:

*      What is the difference between joy and happiness?

        §  Happiness is based on emotions and is directly affected by circumstances. Joy is based on Him and our relationship to Him

*      What is so special about joy?

        §  Since it is based on Him, it can be as constant as He is.

*      Joy is Defined: Gladness, Contentment, Satisfaction

If we understand that “happiness” is in constant motion based on circumstances, then we can see how an attitude of Joy can exist, even when the emotion of happiness is absent! The false teaching that equates happiness with Joy attack this idea and some even go as far to say that if you are not “outwardly” happy you have a spiritual problem or are even in sin! If that is true, then our Lord sinned…which we know is impossible because He was sinless! Consider:

Matthew 26:37–38 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Now, if you can read that passage and believe that Jesus hopped and skipped to the cross, your brain is broke! The whole “health/wealth” teaching ignores the pain and suffering that living in a fallen world involves to the point that when one of the more famous proponents of this teaching dies, instead of just stating the Scriptural Truth that because of sin, all humans will die:

Hebrews 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment

Many of these teachers try to explain that this leader must have, had negative thoughts, or spoke out loud about their death and brought that into existence, or even read personal criticism and spoke that into existence, which caused loss of health! Sadly, so many children of God believe this nonsense, which the enemy uses against them when bad or difficult circumstances happen in their life to drive them away from God! Instead of understanding that this is a part of life in a fallen world and maturing in their faith and walk with the Lord, they blame themselves, God or both and quit the race!

Jesus was very unhappy in the garden that night, so much so that he said that death would be easier. Be Careful! Jesus did not say, “I quit and I am gonna kill myself!” A feeling is NOT an action! It is not a sin to feel like giving up, quitting or even ending it all. Remaining there emotionally is very dangerous, that’s why we need to run to God and to our spiritual community with those emotions, however, feeling like that is not a sin.

When we are there, IF we have Joy we will deal with those emotions, allowing God to show us the true perspective, and we will have that gladness, contentment and satisfaction that Joy produces. This is exactly what Scripture shows us about our Lord:

Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Father and His Son saw the end of the story! That is where Joy takes us! Consider raising your child, and God has allowed you to see that your child will arrive safely in heaven with great rewards for a life that accomplished much for God and brought Him great glory! Now back up…at 3 years old your child gets very sick…are you happy? At 15 years old, your child gets in trouble with the law…are you happy? At 25 your child is a successful, godly business person, then suddenly the business fails and your child loses everything…are you happy? YET…everyone sees your calmness, your contentment and a satisfaction they cannot understand. You know why though…you have seen the end, your child will arrive safely in heaven as a great saint of the Lord! Nothing, no temporal circumstance, no world catastrophe, no angle from hell can change the reality that you know in the end, everything will be great!

Yes…this is hard…when in the midst of a difficult MOMENT, but it is simple when you consider that God has made it clear that after enduring perhaps 100 years of difficulties in a world tainted by sin, we are destined to be secure, happy and with Him for 1,000,000,000,000’S (trillions…get the point) of years!

We can have joy, no matter how unhappy we are in the moment, because we know the end! 

I had promised to look at what will keep God’s joy in us, what will steal that joy from us and why joy is a far superior path to walk than trying to remain on the rollercoaster of happiness. I will cover that next time.

Meditation: Do you ever feel like giving up or quitting? What do you do with those emotions? Do you belong to a small group (community) of brothers and sisters to go to with those emotions? If not, what can you do about that? Do you understand for you ( each person is different) how an emotion you have can be turned into an action you take? How should that impact how you deal with unhealthy emotions? How about emotions that would be good for your life?