LACKING NOTHING...

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.     -- James 1:4

Happiness and joy are related. But they are distant cousins. One is a result, the other a cause. One is a feeling, the other a choice. One is emotion, the other a state of heart.

The root of the word happiness - hap - was an ancient word basically meaning luck, or fortune. One of the "cousins" we get from the word is happenstance. The idea is that at times (and on some) luck smiles and fortunes are good. At other times (and on others), a frown. The result is that the person being smiled or frowned upon is happy, or not, according to forces completely beyond his control. Therefore, at its origin happy was most closely akin to lucky. 

I am going to make two contradictory statements, but hopefully we can reconcile them. 

• Statement 1: Unlike happiness, joy is not conditional. In other words, it is not based on circumstances.

• Statement 2: Joy is conditional. Struggling with the contradiction? Stay with me. Joy is conditional in the sense that it is based on the condition of our heart. And it is based on our perspective. 

Happenstances, by definition, happen; many within our control, most beyond. Joy however, is within our control. And joy is not based on outward circumstances or conditions (i.e. happenstances). 

Jesus said this about a joyful perspective:
Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these other things will be added to you. -- Matthew 6:33
To this Paul added that we are to run the race of life and faith by, ...fixing our eyes on Jesus. 
This is the JOY PERSPECTIVE. 

Jesus said about a joyful heart:
"Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" -- John 7:38
This is the JOYFUL HEART. 

So back to James chapter one. Joy perseveres through all circumstances; through the roller-coaster emotions of happiness and grief. Joy overcomes because it is subject only to our perspective - our focus on Christ;  and our heart - his presence within us. 

I once heard a preacher say:

No Jesus... No joy

Know Jesus... Know joy.

(Not bad)

God, I choose joy.

For now...
D