Rejoice in the Lord always…
- Philippians 4:4
Joy and happiness are cousins. They are not twins. And they are definitely not one in the same.
Think of the hap in happiness. It is the same root found in happenstance or happening. (I'll leave further Google-search etymology to you). Happiness is, at least in part, based on haps or outside circumstances. As a matter of fact, in ancient days, happy and lucky were synonyms (these were the twins).
OK, a lot of words to get to this point: happiness is typically dependent on something outside, and it works its way in. Think child… Christmas… box… puppy. Circumstances make us happy.
Joy however, is not based on externals. Joy is internal. Joy works its way from the inside out. Joy is not dependent on circumstances. Joy is an attitude of the heart and a choice of the will. Joy is the response of intimacy with Jesus, who said, "… my joy may be in you… that your joy may be full" (John 15:11). I have witnessed unfiltered joy in areas of the world and among people that seemed to be in the unhappiest/unluckiest of circumstances.
Paul tells us - in very strong terms - to rejoice. It is active. We may say, "but wait, my circumstances are…" It doesn't matter, rejoice! Why? How? "… in the Lord…." It is God's imminent and abiding presence that enables us to have this joy. And how often should we actively rejoice in the Lord? "Always." In case we didn't get it, Paul repeats the command; "...again I will say, rejoice."
A joy attitude determines our life altitude. Sorry for the cliche, but it is true. We often quote (and very often without context) a verse later in chapter four: "I can do all things through Christ…" (v.13). What is easy to overlook is the tie that the power of overcoming in v.13 has to the rejoicing of v.4. It is the attitude of joy, no matter the circumstance, that produces the contentment (vv.11-12) that empowers Paul to exclaim: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"
There is so much more about joy to be said… and lived! For now, I am going to joyfully go to sleep.
God, I rejoice in you.
For now...
D
