Got joy?

What is joy? I know a lot of smart people who have considered this question who have come up with wonderful answers. But, for me, joy is the anticipation of goodness and blessing. Joy is not about the here and now, but about the promise of better things to come. If faith is the evidence of things not seen, then joy is the excitement and anticipation that goes with that faith. Joy arrives as a part of the faith package. If you have true faith, if you really truly believe, then joy will be present. Present will be an eagerness to see the thing not seen and thereby make your joy complete. Complete joy is the event itself. The thing you have not seen that you have believed with great joy now taking place.

One should not confuse joy with a feeling of present happiness or comfort as I think so many do. Joy is a gift from God. It does not come from us. It is not dependant on our circumstances. It does not mean I live a trouble free life. To tie my joy to my present circumstances is to deny ones self of joy all together. This is a popular trick of the enemy. True joy sets its mind on the outcome of your present circumstances, not the circumstances themselves. If you are having trouble thinking of your present circumstances as resulting in anything good, then you are not living a life of faith. I say this not to be harsh but because joy is an evidence of faith. If you have true faith, then joy will be present. It is possible to have deep, profound pain and have joy. In fact, that is usually the combination. Jesus used joy to drive him to the cross. No one would say that Jesus was happy about taking the wrath of his own father and carrying the weight of all our sin. But, his joy was focused on the result, the restoration of you and me. This prospect was enough to drive him though a process that is hard for our minds to conceive. What pain and agony must he have experienced? Have you ever wondered how he did it? His joy drove him through it. The joy that you and I would someday be able to have fellowship with God the father for all eternity. The joy that we would see him on the cross and decide to take up our cross and follow him. This all made it worth while. I am convinced that Jesus had all these things in mind when he went to the cross. I am convinced that because of this that Christ gave his life with great joy. And he challenges us to do the same.