Joy Unleashed

Happiness is easy. Just find favorable circumstances and you can be happy. Can't find favorable circumstances? Well, that is a problem, but, don't worry, things will change. They always do. At some point everyone finds sufficient positives to be happy, at least for a time. Unfortunately, that time never lasts.

Scripture, on the other hand, gives a startling command. "Rejoice!" (Rom 12:12; 2 Cor 13:11; Php 3:1; Php 4:4; 1 Thess 5:16; etc.) In Philippians alone Paul commands it three times ... self-consciously. By "self-consciously" I mean that Paul was well aware that he was repeating himself.

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. (Php 3:1)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (Php 4:4)

In the Hebrew mentality, repetition was reinforcement of an idea and Paul was "a Hebrew of Hebrews" (Php 3:5). So his repetition of this command was significant. Rejoice!

How is this startling? Happiness is dependent. It is an emotion that is activated by a sense of well-being and contentment. As such, it cannot be commanded. It is an effect, not a cause. It is passive, not active. But we are commanded to choose to rejoice.

How does biblical joy differ from our "happiness"? Paul lists "joy" as a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). That means that, for the believer, joy is sourced by God's Spirit within us. For us, "the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Rom 14:17) For us, then, joy is not sourced in circumstances; it is a product of God's Spirit. When Paul writes, "This is God's will for you in Christ Jesus," (1 Thess 5:18), he includes joy in the list. It isn't tied to circumstances or tethered to pleasure. As such, we can "count it all joy" when we face trials knowing that God is at work (James 1:2-4). We can weep and rejoice. We can have joy unleashed from conditions around us.

We face problems all the time. It's a product of the Fall. It's just the way it is. Our current crisis illustrates it. But we are not limited to happiness in these problems. We can actually rejoice always if we'll be obedient to God. It's a fruit of the Spirit.