Question: Because emotions such as happiness, peace, contentment and security are easily definable and recognizable, I have a question.

The Bible speaks of "joy." "Joy" is used in a different and separate context apart from happiness, peace, contentment and security. We are commanded to rejoice in all things and in all circumstances.

If "joy" is different than happiness, contentment, peace and security, what is it? Is there a feeling or emotional state that can be identified as "joy?"

I know when I’m happy, content, secure and at peace with a situation, but these may all not be present at any one time. There are opposite emotions that play into life as well and I know when those are present, too.

It has been said that if a Christian (professing Christian) does not live joyfully, there is cause to evaluate if he/she is truly a born again believer because if the Holy Spirit lives within the believer, he/she will experience "joy."

What is "joy?" How can I know when I have a pocket full of it? Or is "joy" an abstract term that is undefined or unrecognizable? Some have told me that "joy" is a conglomerate of happiness, contentment, security and peace. Others have told me that "joy" is simply what we experience when we abide in Christ. I know that as Christians we are commanded to rejoice in all things and in all circumstances, can you point to the "joy" experienced by Christ while in the garden crying tears of blood asking the Father to remove the cup, at Lazareth’s tomb and hanging on the cross?

Please help me! I am a Christian, but I struggle with emotions every day, both the ups and downs. A Christian brother said I should not dwell so much on what "joy" is and just allow the Holy Spirit to work in my life and I will have "joy." I want to know "joy" and understand, but I want to what "joy" is so I’ll know when I have it. Can you help me?

Thank you!

In Christ,

Dean

Answer: Dear Dean,

The "joy" that the Bible speaks of as a product of the Holy Spirit is not the same thing as our contemporary use of the word "happy". Happiness is a surface feeling and emotion, fleeting, whereas joy is from the Lord, it lasts, it is eternal. Happiness depends on external stimuli that make us feel good, whereas joy is deeper and more profound than that – we can be joyful, even when times are tough. 1 Peter 1:6-8 talks about "all kinds of trials", and that in spite of them, perhaps even because of them, we are "filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy…"

You mentioned that someone had told you that joy is what we experience when we abide in Christ – I agree. What we do not always know is what joy is – for it is not necessarily one and the same as surface happiness – so it may take us a while to know what joy is. We may be joyful and not know it – and come to know that we have joy (Jesus) and joy has us – only later.

You also mentioned that a brother told you that joy is the work of/the product of the fruit of the Holy Spirit – once again, I agree.

The fact that you experience humans emotions, ups and downs, is not necessarily related to the joy that Jesus gives you. You may experience those for many reasons – but they are not a part of Jesus living his life within you. They may be a chemical imbalance, they may be as a result of human immaturity, they may be our human sinfulness that wars against us (Romans 7), they may be too much coffee or not "enough" (whatever that may be)!!!

One thing is for sure – in order for joy to be present in our lives, first things must be first. "Joy" is not spelled "Y-O-J"! When YOURSELF is first, OTHERS next, and JESUS is in last place in our lives, we will be depressed. J - esus must always be first in our lives – followed by O – thers, and finally Y – ourself.

Hope this helps, Dean – May God bless you.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht