It’s natural to wonder: “How can you choose joy?”
Fair question. The trouble starts with definition. Many think that the guidance to “choose joy” sounds like asking you to pretend that you are happy or to put on a smile when you’re hurting. But that’s not the idea. Joyfulness isn’t about pretending or putting on a show…and it certainly isn’t about ignoring the pains or griefs of life.
So what is it about? Let’s begin with definition. When we talk about joy, we’re describing a sort of happiness. But it’s a different form of happiness than the world typically tries to give. This is not a transitory, temporary, come-and-go sort of happiness. It is a deep, lasting, and intense fulfillment and contentment that can only come from the Creator of all joy.
Here’s the mystery. On one hand we know that joy is a fruit of the Spirit…a gift. We know that we can’t compel God to give us this gift, so it follows that “Joy” is not something we could “choose”. On the other hand, joy is also given as a command (“Rejoice!”) more than 70 times in the New Testament. And if it is given as an imperative, it must require an action, a response, on our part.
At the intersection the gift and the command, we arrive at the meaning of “choose joy.” It is not the flip of a switch which magically erases grief, stress, or disappointment. But it requires us to turning our hearts away from falsehood and toward truth. That is the CHOICE we have. To choose joy is to turn our hearts regularly toward the God who loves us and wants to give us His joy and to turn away from the things that falsely promise this sort of deep, lasting fulfillment. Only He can give us real, true, lasting happiness.
So we turn our hearts away from false joy-givers, turn our hearts toward God, and we wait for His gift of joy to us.
That’s what this site is about. Providing encouragement, tools, thoughts, ideas that help us to be intentional about where we set our gaze, what we rehearse in our minds, and how we position ourselves to receive the gift of joy.
If you’re ready to “choose joy”…come on in and see what’s here!
Take 5 minutes to connect with the Lord practically.
Wander through interesting tidbits (fun facts, hidden stories, etc.) and find an odd bit of trivia or two.
Longer thoughts exploring Joy and related topics.
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https://i-will-choose-joy.kit.com/2eeeca8728
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