No one wants to live a life absent from joy and happiness. Everyone seeks happiness. So it doesn’t help the cause of God when we go around looking miserable. You say, “But I have problems.” Well, everybody does. For example, when the Apostle Paul was in prison, he wrote, “rejoice in the Lord always.”
Seeking a joyful and happy life is what each of us desires. We purchase things in pursuit of joy. We associate with people who make us happy. We take vacations to refresh ourselves so that we can relax and have fun.
Expressing joy is something you do despite your circumstances, not because of them. The Bible teaches us that “with joy you will draw water from the wells of eternal life.” God has put a well of joy within each one of us, but we must draw it out and share it with others.
Joy can be contagious. Happiness travels through relational networks like ripples on an ocean. It is so constant that in fact, it can permeate three degrees of separation. That means your happiness quotient is more likely to increase when a friend of a friend of a friend becomes happy.
It is natural for humanity to desire joy and happiness. Happiness satisfies us in the morning. It brings us joy in the evening. And it makes us smile even in the darkest of times. Ask yourself this question: what would it take for me to find joy in my life? The answer to this question lies within each of us. It is seeking God first for peace and happiness. Then you will discover the joy that the Apostle Paul wrote about to the Philippians saying, “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
Joyful people make us come alive. The Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” We love joy, but often we forget how powerful it is. Joy gives us the strength to resist temptation. It gives us the ability to persevere. It is the stuff that makes relationships stick. It gives us the energy to love.
It has been said that “we don’t just need air, food, and water; we need joy. And the person who brings it is like an oasis in a desert land.” So today, seek joy and happiness. And Never Give Up! Never Give Up! Never Give Up!
By Dr. Walter Ghosten
chaplain@lhp.net
