Joy - Experience Joy This ChristmasSample

What joy looks like

Let me ask you a question. What do you think joy looks like? Do you think others can see if you are joyful, or not? What about when things aren’t going well at the time? Does joy look different then?

Joy is an affection that isn’t purely internal, but is reflected externally. In other words, your life will look different when you are joyful or joyless.

I’m not really talking about whether you’re smiley or extroverted, but moreso the actions that you take and decisions you make, regardless of your circumstances.

In the Bible, the authors and original Jewish recipients knew this to be the case. In his book, Israelite Emotion Expressions, Mark Smith points out that they knew that joy does not remain in the heart, but is part of a movement towards appropriate action. This should help us understand why we celebrate joyfully on Sundays, why we are generous at all times, why we are uplifting and encouraging people. There is something in us that, as followers of Jesus, can’t just stay inside us. It naturally bursts out in so many expressions. 

No matter how you’re feeling, no matter what’s going on, you can have the joy of the Lord. When you realise what Jesus has done for you and given you, and when you realise that God is in control, you take actions and make decisions differently to when you are joyless. 

Emotions are great to have, but they make very poor leaders. So fill yourself with God, because you’ll be filling yourself with joy.

To reflect:

1. Are your general decisions and actions affected by your circumstances?

2. What does it look like to ‘choose joy’ when you don’t ‘feel happy’?