Guide Your Mind-Guard Your Heart-Grace Your TongueShembull

Dr. Robert Plutchik, the world-famous psychologist, identified these eight basic human emo­tions: fear, anger, disgust, surprise, joy, sadness, anticipation, and accep­tance. Although I do not claim to be an expert on psychology or on human emotions, I must inform you that I disagree with him that “joy” is an emotion. 

“Happy” is an emotion that is derived from positive human experiences and earthly events, while joy comes from one place, and one place alone—the presence of the Lord. Joy is a divinely powerful weapon given to us by our Father. Joy begins in the spirit and splashes over into the soul, even when the soul is experiencing an all-time low. Joy is available to us, and is experienced by us, even when circumstances are horrific and devastating. 

So often, we spend our lives looking for joy in all the wrong places. Joy is fully found in one place, and one place alone. Joy is found wherever God is. Because we know that nothing is able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (see Romans 8:38–39), we also know that nothing is able to separate us from His joy. God is with you per­petually, and you are with Him eternally! He has endearingly bequeathed you with the greatest benefit that comes from His presence: He has brought you the joy of heaven. 

Jesus took your grief and sorrow so that you would no longer have to carry them on your own. He has relieved you of the bondage that sorrow and grief bring to a person’s life. Just as your sins are gone, so are your sor­rows. Jesus has replaced your sins with His eternal forgiveness, and He has replaced your grief with the joy of His everlasting presence! 

Personal Application: In what way is experiencing God’s joy a choice on your part? How can you choose joy in your present circumstances?