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Joy
By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved
Why do we spend so much time and effort on the pursuit of happiness? Why do we run from it to either grow up or just to be a responsible adult? Maybe we don’t believe we deserve to be happy or are worthy of happiness? Perhaps our efforts are to punish ourselves and forbid ourselves from happiness because of, bad stuff we have done or think we have done?
Oh, I’ve come to terms with happiness because, it is so elusive like a butterfly or like a carrot on a stick – neither of which we can ever seem to net or catch. Happiness always seems so temporal if we find it or it’s just out of reach.
So over the years, I developed my own little theory about happiness. Part of it comes from a line from many “fairytales” we are likely familiar with from our childhood. Another comes from a song by the late Jimmy Buffet-
Happily Ever After
(at least once in awhile)
Well isn’t that special? No, it does not really help anyone or me, why not? Well, news flash to me, happiness is a relative thing. This means it could be different for nearly every person. Maybe we form groups, associations, clubs, families and clans when our people-social unions have the same or similar types of happiness in common?
Oh I get it, maybe we get talked out of happiness or we are not supposed to pursue happiness because, it’s childish? Funny thing is that we all want to be happy and we all pursue happiness anyway. What about the people of the United States and the ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ in our founding documents?
But here is something I just discovered – joy is right in front of us.
How convenient for me to have discovered this and to be sharing it with you at Christmas time or during the holiday times if you prefer – Hanukah, Kwanzaa or whatever. But sticking with Christmas, look at the many references to “joy” from carols and songs:
“Joy to the World”
Good Tidings of Comfort and Joy”
“Ode to Joy”
“Joyful , Joyful We Adore Thee”
“Oh For Joy”
“Joy”
(probably a lot more, but “joy” is everywhere)
About the last one above, “Joy” is a song by English singer-songwriter Mick Jagger. Yep, that’s what you read and that’s the guy, the lead singer of the Rolling Stones. Go figure. But his song ‘Joy’ was released on his fourth solo album, Goddess in the Doorway (2001). Rolling Stone Magazine called it “a rocking, gospel-tinged collaboration with Bono of U2” – featuring Pete Townshend (remember the rock band The Who), on guitar. “Joy” was one of three tracks from Goddess in the Doorway to be featured on Jagger’s greatest hits album, The Very Best of Mick Jagger.
“Joy is everywhere!
Maybe we can’t see joy because, we are not looking for it, we’re focused on happiness? Joy is not relative! Not only is it not relative, it is universal. It’s real. It’s scientific. Joy knows no language, culture, education, age, borders, sex or anything else that otherwise separate us people from each other.
Joy is common to all. Joy is all around us. Joy is everywhere. I suppose we don’t look for it because, once we experience it, we feel just like kids again. No, joy may not make us younger, but it sure can make us feel young and well hey, that could certainly contribute to both our good health and long life.
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
Proverbs 17:22 King James Version (KJV)
A merry heart can physically effect our pain response, immune system and so many other physiological and biologic processes. No guessing there or mere positive-projection, it’s real. So is joy.
Just for fun, how many times is the word “happy” and the word “joy” used in the Bible?
25 times the word “happy” is found in the King James Version
187 times is found the word ”joy”
Before we look at many of these, would you agree that “joy” is found many more times in the Bible than the word “happy”? Would you think there might be a reason, a purpose, a design for this and that it is intentional?
So let’s look at some “joy” from the Word of God. If we should experience joy and if it is so readily available to all people everywhere, wouldn’t God mention it in His Word?
“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Psalm 30:5 KJV
Sure, when we make others mad, we are uncomfortable with that for a while, but it does not generally last indefinitely, not with God anyway. And grief and mourning may be difficult especially at night, but what comes up in the morning? Have you ever been on an airplane and it’s dark and stormy out? Did you ever get above the clouds and see the sun shining? How does this make you feel? Do you not feel joy?
“Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:”
Psalm 66:1 KJV
Like cheerful humming, that could be a a “joyful noise.”
“Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice.”
Psalm 96:12 KJV
Waving fields of grain, don’t they make you feel joy? What about trees waving in a gentle breeze? Don’t these make you feel joy as if the trees are rejoicing too? What is rejoicing but to re-joy again!
“Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together.”
Psalm 98:8 KJV
Water through the rocks sounding like clapping and echoes through the hills (plus their rounded shapes), aren’t those joyful sounds?
“And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.”
Ecclesiastes 2:10
Joy in ceasing from your labor and joy from the many things you see that your heart desires = joy.
“There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.”
Ecclesiastes 2:24
Joy is everywhere and it is from God and by His multitude of reminders in nature that all people should joy.
“Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.”
Isaiah 9:3 KJV
Having a larger population of joyful people increases joy. At harvest time we joy to see the bounty of the fields being brought in.
“Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”
Isaiah 12:3 KJV
Drawing water from a well causes joy especially if you are really thirsty and the water is cool and refreshing, to save you from a parched throat.
“And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting to cease.”
Isaiah 16:10 KJV
Look at the opposites of the verse – joy from a field of plenty (good food to eat), vineyards full – joy from eating grapes and from drinking a little wine.
“The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.”
Isaiah 24:8 KJV
The sound of the harp, a violin, flute, piano, guitar, trumpet and other musical instruments cause joy.
“Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;”
Isaiah 32:14 KJV
Leaping, jumping and frolicking little donkeys, horses, goats too, cows, calves, sheep and more, have joy and bring us joy when we see them act this way.
“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
Isaiah 35:10 KJV
Singing songs bring joy.
“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”
Isaiah 55:12
What beautiful mind pictures or figures of speech this verse brings to mind. When we experience joy it is as if the echoes we hear from the hills are sounding joy (breaking out with singing), and the wind through the trees seem to have joy when you walk by!
“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:3 KJV
Having oil to light your lamps, for your food and to soothe our often tiredness and soreness, give us joy.
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.”
Jeremiah 15:16 KJV
Surely we have all heard words like this and it was as we just eat them up because, they give us such joy.
“The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts: for the Lord is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the Lord.”
Jeremiah 33:11 KJV
Voices speaking or singing or humming can cause us joy. Newlyweds and weddings give us joy. Birthdays and all manner of celebrations give us joy.
“For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy.”
Jeremiah 48:27 KJV
Skipping causes joy. Try it if you still can! Ask a child or watch them skip. All of these things will cause joy.
“The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.”
Joel 1:2 KJV
Just the opposite of the things above, joy can be experienced because of trees, their fruit and their leaves all in abundance.
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”
Matthew 2:10 KJV
When the Magi saw the astrological signs in the sky, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy because,
they were following “his star!” We experience joy when we see stars.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”
Matthew 13:44 KJV
Have you ever been somewhere and the location was so wonderful and it gave you so much joy, you wanted to buy the house there, rent it, or maybe buy the property and build your home there? Rounding the bend and seeing that you are almost home again, does this not bring joy!
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
Matthew 25:21 KJV
Isn’t it obvious that if what you do gives joy to others that you would benefit and be joyous or joyful too?
“And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.”
Matthew 28:8 KJV
Come on, surely we must know that in the above verse that the word “fear” is respect or awe as, how would it be possible to be afraid and joyful?
“Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.”
Acts 2:28 KJV
Seeing the countenance of another gives joy.
“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
Acts 20:24 KJV
Finishing your degree, finishing the work week — (TGIF Thank God It’s Friday and the weekend), making it to retirement, finishing your course or purpose in life, gives joy.
“And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”
Romans 5:11 KJV
Joy in, the word “in” is the Greek preposition en = totally within. Joy in God. So yes, enjoy yourself, totally in God.
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Romans 15:13 KJV
“Joy and peace in (en = totally within), believing why? So we can abound in hope through the power of the spirit of God from God in us. How? Because all of this comes from the the God of Hope. The word hope is used twice here. The number two (2), numerically means = “it is established”
“And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.”
2 Corinthians 2:3 KJV
My joy is that it is the joy of all! Have you ever felt joy just because others you care about joy?
“Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.”
2 Corinthians 7:4 KJV
Even joy in tribulation! Notice it does not say happiness in tribulation (pressure etc), but joy!
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,”
Galatians 5:22 KJV
All people can experience joy, but the Christian can receive even more (“fullness of joy”) and it is a fruit (1 of 9 fruits), we receive when we operate the manifestations of the spirit – speaking in tongues, tongues with interpretation, word of prophecy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, manifestation of believing, miracles, and gifts (plural) of healings (plural). What? Not only can we have joy in operating the manifestations, but we get “joy” as one of the fruit of the spirit when we do? Yep, that’s what it says and that’s exactly what it means. Fullness?
“You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”
Psalm 16:11 KJV
“And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”
1 John 1:4 KJV
“Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,”
Philippians 1:4 KjV
There is joy in praying for others.
“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?”
1 Thessalonians 2:19 KJV
Joy in seeing each other again throughout eternity and the joy of being with Christ at his coming (his return).
“For ye are our glory and joy.”
1 Thessalonians 2:20 KJV
“Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;”
2 Timothy 1:4 KJV
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2 KJV
The joy that is future and comes by God revealing it has no different effect than if it was happening now because, it is happening— always in the now!
“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”
1 Peter 1:8 KJV
Joy so incredible that we may not be able to articulate it, but it can be experienced. This is why joy is an inside job! It is often both an inside and an exterior response from what comes to us from without. God has these reminders everywhere that cause joy.
“Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.”
2 John 1:12 KJV
Joy not written with paper and ink but face to face that “our” joy is full. Joy is made to be experienced, immediately.
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
3 John 1:4 KJV
The writer (Paul), and the author (God), have no greater joy than to see their children (in the World), and (in the Word), walk in truth.!
There is joy everywhere –
Snowflakes on your tongue and eyelashes
Squiggly mud between your toes
Fish leaping from the water
A red barn, especially in the winter snow
The contrast of a pair of cardinals, in the white snow
Building a snowman
Making mud pies
Sandcastles – seeing them and building them
Candles and fires
Cooking fragrances – seasonings and spices
Fresh cut grass and growing living things
Decorating for the holidays
Cookies and Candy, Gingerbread
The first flower of spring – crocus coming up through the snow
Bubble baths
Singing birds
Seeing a hummingbird, a butterfly or a honey bee
Bluebird and Robin eggs and their fledglings leaving the nest
Dancing in the rain
Ice skating or pretending to, inside with your socks on and with children
Puppies and kittens and children
A hug and a kiss –
and the list is almost endless.
There is joy everywhere.
There was a band leader named Louis Prima (December 7, 1910 – August 24, 1978). He was an American trumpeter, singer, entertainer, and bandleader. He once sang on a song – ‘Enjoy Yourself’
So, go ahead and Joy and En-joy yourself!
Now if you want to dispute any of this, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I am just…
…a witness.
Dahni
Pentecost 