Joy, as defined by the Meriam Webster, is an adjective, adverb, or noun. It is a “state of” and something that is “evoked by”.
In this age of fast food, fast technology, Instagram likes and Facebook shares, far too many people are waiting for joy to be a “state of” that is “evoked by”. Well, sisters, I want to give you a new definition, from a reliable source: “Milo’s Webster”
Definition of Joy
- The emotion of happiness in spite of well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.
- The act of choosing to be Happy
—joy verb
Yes, I believe that joy is something you have to actively and purposefully do. Sometimes, it is the hardest “verb” you can partake. I reflected on one day of my life, it was a Wednesday—let me break it down.
- On that morning, I woke up and immediately started looking at Yahoo News—pretty much every article in there is depressing in one way or another.
- As I was driving to work, I realized that I forgot my lunch but didn’t have time to turn around.
- At work, the internet keep crashing which is the most essential part of what I do.
- I was told that I needed to start and finish ASAP a big project that just the previous day I was told I didn’t need to worry about.
- I came home and I immediately tripped on my husband’s shoes, which he left at the front door—which really hurt.
- The dog pooped in the house. The cat destroyed my living room blinds.
- My husband had already eaten and I wasn’t hungry for anything in the fridge—so I just didn’t eat.
- I went to Facebook and I saw a friend share some news that made me really depressed.
- I went to sleep.
Yeah, it was a pretty crappy day—not much joy. Did I hold myself joyfully or even gracefully? No, I was a big angry, sad and hungry mess. Unfortunately, I believe that it is really easy to fall into these cycles of joyless day.
Do you see anything missing in my day? It is not that I never did any breathing exercises, or stopped to smell the roses. I never incorporated God in my day.
God wants us to be joyful; he wants us to fill our cup of joy through Him. We do so every time we get closer to God whether in prayer, in reading the word, in worship (with fellow Christians) or simply in awe of His creation.
How do I know He wants us to be Happy? Well, it’s is one of the most repeated topics in the Bible. Here is some examples:
- We are to be joyful in the Lord:
- Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again–rejoice! Philippinas 4:4
- Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the LORD.Psalm 144:15
- He will show us how to be joyful
- You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. Psalm 14:11
- May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
- Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24
- His word will give us joy
- When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies. Jeremiah 15:16
- We are joyful because he made us righteous
- David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: Romans 4:6
- You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11
On that Wednesday; I failed to choose to be joyful. Instead of spending time with God, I spent time reading political dramas and staring at my phone. I know that my work’s issues, my husband accidentally trying to break my arm, my pets’ destructive tendencies and my friend’s news would have still happened. However, my attitude could have different. Instead of being angry, hungry and sad the whole day, I could have chosen to be happy. I would have joy despite “of well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.”
It is okay to get angry and sad, but it is dangerous to hold on to those emotions for an extended amount of time.
Proverbs 17 give us this sliver of wisdom: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. Proverbs 17:22
Remember that God is the source of joy so get closer to Him. I pray sisters that you also choose to be happy and be joyful despite any issue or stress in your life. I pray that
“You will go out in joy
And be led forth in peace
The mountains and hills
Will burst into song before you,
And all trees of the field
Will clap their hands” Isaiah 55:12
Love Milo
Ps. I recently found this song, it brings me a lot of Joy.
