Joy

According to dictionary.com, the definition of joy is: "the emotion of great delight or happiness, caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation."

As I look more into this definition, I find one big problem with the entire definition. Yes, I agree, joy is an emotion of delight, maybe even happiness, but then the next few words change it all...'CAUSED by SOMETHING'. This is where I being to disagree completely. I don't believe by any means that joy is just randomly caused by something, for that is just happiness.

It was a couple months ago, and I was sitting listening to someone give their testimony. Now, I've heard a million and one testimonies before, but this one was different. She stood up there, giving pretty much ever reason for a person to be mad at God. She walked through her life, which seemed like a complete disaster, full of more pain and hardship than anyone should have to bear. This girl, through and through had the right to be completely mad at God. Oh but wait, let me inform you that this same girl, is one of the most joyful people I know. She runs around daily wearing bright colored clothes, singing, dancing, jumping, laughing, and doing everything. She, my friend, is full of complete energy.

I sat in my seat that day and was incredible convicted. It dawned on me, that HAPPINESS is a CIRCUMSTANCE, but JOY is a CHOICE.

Happiness comes and goes. We've all felt that at one point or another. The extreme happiness when someone gives you a huge bar of dark chocolate, or when the older sibling comes into town, or watching someone you care about get married. There are so many things in life that make us happy. But happiness is only temporary. When the big dark chocolate bar is finally gone, the happiness is gone. When we are eating the dark chocolate and are so interested in the chocolate that we miss a step and fall down the stairs, breaking a bone, suddenly we don't feel so happy anymore. The circumstance leaves or changes and then so does the happiness.

Joy on the other hand, always has the possibility of being there. Joy, unlike the candy bar, is always going to be there. But joy is a choice. It's not just an emotion that's there; it's a choice whether or not to find joy in the midst of some of the darkest situations. Joy, to me, is when someone takes the choice to dwell on the things that are going well in life, instead of just seeing the bad. Joy comes through when someone is battling some of the worst circumstances, but instead of dwelling on them, focuses on Christ, His plans in the situation, and continues to be positive, even though their circumstances don't agree.

As I have dwelled on this fact, I have found so much truth in it. Just to remind myself to daily choose joy, I placed the quote on my mirror in the bathroom. Each day as I got ready for the day, I take the time to consider whether or not I'm going to choose to be joyful, no matter what my present circumstances are.

"But Kate, have you seen my life? There is no possible way there could be anything good in it," may be the words you are dying to yell into my face. If that's your response, let me be the first to kindly tell you that you are wrong. There have been periods of time in my life, when I have felt the same way, but God has convicted me, and I have found there are always a couple things to be thankful for each day. Whether it's as simple as having a good friend to be there to listen, a warm house to live in, sunshine or that yummy chocolate bar that someone decided to give to me during lunch, there is always something. (I know, I'm just making you really want a big chocolate bar:))

Maybe there are a million and one things going wrong in your life right now, but I strongly encourage you to stop for just a second. Take a deep breath. Look at your life; your current circumstances. Think about all you did today. Look outside your window. There is something to be thankful for daily. If this is a place that's hard for you, and you honestly feel like your life is terrible, I encourage you - as a friend of mine encouraged me to do a couple months ago - everyday, find 3 things you can be thankful for. Find 3 good things each day that were a blessing to you, something fun you did; anything positive. Write about them and remind yourself of them. Focus on them instead of the things that went wrong during your day.

No this doesn't mean you still can't call a friend and tell them what happened in your day, if it was bad, but don't let the conversation just focus on that, also share with them the good things that are happening in your life.

Happiness comes and goes, but joy has the possibility to be there, if only you allow it to.

"HAPPINESS IS A CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT JOY IS A CHOICE."