We anticipate the coming of Christmas with the final week of advent, a focus on joy. There is a lot of confusion in our culture over the term joy, and it is almost always confused with ‘happiness.’ Is it possible to be joyful and unhappy at the same time? We are commanded in 1 Thessalonians to ‘rejoice always.’ All of us know that it is not possible to be happy or joyful all the time, so how are we to do this?
As we look at the names of God, we find in Psalm 43:4 God is called El Simchah Giyli, God my exceeding joy! “Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and delight.” God of my exceeding joy. Both Simchah and giyl are words meaning gladness, mirth, pleasure and great joy.
Joy is a happiness of sorts. It is a deep, steadfast peace and pleasure resting in our souls assuring us that regardless of all that is going on in the world around us, God is there. He is present, faithful, unchanging and in charge. Nothing that happens is a surprise to Him. He has all the resources needed for each and every situation, and when He doesn’t respond as we would, we rest in the fact that He is a good God…He is God and we are not. It is not a happiness dependant on our circumstances, but dependant on our God of the circumstances. A happiness not dependant on there being no storms, but a happiness because when we know and understand who God is, we understand that He is present in the storm with us.
I have had the privilege of experiencing this joy despite the worst of circumstances. We were in Jos, Nigeria during the riots in the aftermath of 9/11. Just as Americans celebrated in the streets when Osama bin Laden was captured, so the Muslims were rejoicing in the streets over the Trade Towers collapsing. At one point I was stopped in the truck I was driving, a machine gun was pointed to my head, and I was yelled at in a language I did not understand. It was terrifying, but at the same time, a complete calmness overcame my soul and filled my heart with joy. It was the joy of knowing that God was completely in control and I was safe in His hands. God did deliver me, but I understood how in the face of persecution those heroes of old (of whom I am NOT) could stand and smile at God and submit to whatever came their way.
Just as agape love is found in the source of the giver and reflects the character of God, so is our joy found not in our circumstances, but in God Himself. God would not be pleased if a child was sick and we rejoiced over this ‘trial.’ What rejoicing always means is not getting so caught up in the trials and tribulations of this life that we forget to focus on the God of exceeding joy. Despite the child being sick, we rejoice that God is the one who has the final word; God is the great healer; God gives us strength.
God of exceeding joy. May He graciously teach us to keep our eyes on Him and rejoice always in the truth of His being.
Our song today is Joy to the World/Joy of the Lord by Maverick City Music.