Got joy?

“So. Heidi. What gives you joy?”

My new friend’s question wasn’t meant to be deep or probing, just a cordial segue into light conversation. Still, I had to think a minute before answering.

“My grandkids,” I began. “Motorcycles. Dogs. The outdoors. Writing.”

I thought more about it the next day. What brings me joy? It’s a long list: the scent of laundry dried in a northwest wind; the sight of robins having come back early, promising the warmer weather will soon catch up with them; sunrises; sunsets; sleeping in; getting up early on a summer morning; laughter – deep and loud, especially at something that’s just pure silliness; tears (my built in release valve); music – rock and roll oldies, rhythm and blues or hymnody; pizza (nature’s most perfect food); coffee; chocolate; TUMS (relief and joy are closely related); sunshine on my face; little arms wrapped around my neck; hugs from people I love; the sleepy look on Jack’s face first thing in the morning; the sound of him playing guitar up in his loft; a well written book with a story worth thinking about. Countless reminders of grace, like God’s fingerprints all over my life.

The dictionary defines joy as a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. Personally, I see a distinction between pleasure and joy. Pleasure is fleeting whereas true joy is deeper and more permanent. Happiness, too, is often transient. But joy (at least for the believer) is more a state of the soul. It comes not so much from those little external triggers like the ones I’ve listed above, but from the heart, knowing that blessings great and small flow freely from the hand of our God. Joy is a characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit. It can’t be eradicated by life’s vicissitudes.

Comfort & joy

Real joy is an abiding sense of well-being, regardless of one’s situation or problems. Job, in the midst of his suffering, was able to say whole-heartedly “I know that my redeemer lives.”

Resilience comes with believing that no matter what, the Lord is with us and has promised never to leave. Joy boils down to trusting that he is God, he is good and he is working. Then all the externals – good or bad – connect to that comforting truth.

That’s the kind of joy our ancient sisters must have experienced on that Sunday morning so long ago. They came with heavy hearts, traumatized by the horror of Golgotha. They fretted about the massive stone that sealed the tomb. Then suddenly it wasn’t a problem. The boulder was cast aside and an angel brought news they could hardly believe.

But they did believe. From that moment on nothing would ever suck the joy out of their lives again. Suffering and struggles weren’t eliminated – just put into perspective.

Maybe, like me, you have some aching sadness, some heaviness of heart in your life today. But we also have chocolate and springtime. Better yet – because of that first Resurrection Sunday we still hear the Saviour’s message – “Take courage. I have overcome the world.” Whether you’re anxious or energized or maybe a little of both – as a child of God, life-giving joy underpins all of it.

So, I wish you not just a happy Easter, but a joy-filled one! He is risen! And don’t you forget it.