“If you want to get warm you must stand near the fire; if you want to be wet you must get into the water. If you want joy, power, peace, eternal life, you must get close to, or even into, the thing that has them. They are not the sort of prize which God could, if He chose, just hand out to anyone.” C.S. Lewis
Happiness or Joy?
If one were to ask what makes one happy, I suspect you might hear; family, friends, possessions, trips, activities and so on. Some find happiness in a leisurely walk on a lovely summer’s day through nature and others skiing down scenic snow capped slopes. The ways in which people find and view happiness is broad and the list extensive. The feeling ‘happy’ is a common way of feeling, being and seeing things in one’s life. What’s the difference between happiness and joy? Speaking from experience, it seems to me that happiness seems to expire at some point or ceases to exist. It seems to remain on the surface of life, afraid to venture into the depths of true beauty. I also wonder if happiness is the child in us and joy is Christ in us. Joy, in my humble opinion comes from depth of feeling. It comes from wisdom and living a life of faith. As a child, my family would often remark on my happiness in life. Even as a baby, my parents would say, I barely cried and when I awoke I’d lay quietly or softly hum to myself, playing with my fingers and toes, in bed and wait for a loved to hold me. Maybe, it was the stories my father would share with me about the greats of history, like the astronomer Galileo and historians while I sat from a young age at his knee drinking it up. I always saw the world as one great big adventure of love. God places all things before us for us to grow in love. As I look back and wonder on the, ‘why’ and ‘how’ was I able to feel happy and find light in all things? That’s the journey of joy. I would have to say now, it was a feeling of security and love and also a ‘longing’ for something much greater that lay ahead before me. I could further say, it was a spiritual longing and desire in a search towards the unknown secret of great love. The kind of love that runs deep within one’s soul above all tempests and beyond all earthly riches. Beyond what the world could provide.
Joy in the Tempest?
The tempest in one’s life comes and goes. One day you’re floating on a cloud or basking in the sun and the next a violent wind sweeps through causing heartache. What one does in the storm is the question of spiritual journey. It is a choice. It is a deep search that can make the mountain low and valley high. Every mountain made low and valley made high, uneven ground will be made smooth. Isaiah 40 It is a search for the breathtaking beauty of love. When joy takes root deep in the mind, heart and soul, whatever tide or tempest may come, joy is like a rock but happiness can waver. The joy within is alive, stable and immovable. One can feel sadness on the surface, but deep within them can still have joy. The joy that lies deep within one’s soul is the joy Jesus offers us. Jesus invites us to the eternal, not temporary, banquet and promises the utmost joy in this life and heaven. You’re invited to take a leap of faith. Why would anyone turn this down? We all do at one time or another and reasons are diverse. I suppose time and instant gratification in the immediate luxuries has an effect. I suppose an unknown fear of healing the hurts deep within. I suppose one may not realize how from dust they were created and shaped so perfectly. One may yet to realize how wonderfully and amazingly they were made to live. Maybe one chooses to remain in the storm, trying to control the tempest instead of letting go and letting God in. He calls us at times in our deepest hours of need. One may feel unworthy and have yet to realize God’s amazing love for them. For all the reasons that may exist, He has created every soul perfectly. God’s plan for you and I is far greater than momentary or fleeting happiness, he says, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” Jn 6:35. The choice is ours to accept or reject divine love. Choices affect happiness and joy in our heart.
Eternal Joy in Jesus
People have often asked me throughout my life, how do you seem to be so happy, loving, forgiving or see the good where there isn’t any? I reassure them, it’s a gift I received from my journey of faith and love. It’s a gift everyone can partake in. It doesn’t come in a box, being or place. It comes in the longing for God and journeying the path of faith. When we see the world through the eyes of God, everything changes. Love changes everything. God is in all things, people, events, nature and all the moments one can think of. This grace of joy deep in the soul He offers it to all those that believe in Him. When we use that grace for His glory love becomes greater within us. Even in this faith blog, I write in hopes of inspiring loved ones and others in the world, that God deems this message is for. Imagine, if everyone could send out one message each day to let someone know they are loved. Imagine if you could touch one soul every day how the world would change. God transforms us from the inside out. Although, the season of sadness and suffering may come tears will be wiped by joy in the depths of one’s soul where Jesus lives. He makes us come alive with joy. The light does not extinguish in the darkness but yet burns brighter. Darkness can overtake a soul that is not rooted in Christ. Christ gives warmth, comfort and reassures us we are deeply loved. The heart becomes stronger. The tides of fear become ebbed by God’s radiance. Eternal joy differs from simple happiness because God’s omnipotent power in us is to experience great joy and happiness. Joy grows stronger and powerful as our relationship with Jesus deepens.
May you blessed with joy in your journey,
Claudia
Ournourishedsoul.com
Beautifully worded koukla. Love you.