One day in college can be the best day of your life; you go to your formal, meet a hot boy, ace you math test, and to top it all off, your dad puts money in your account. However 24 hours later, you could be crying over a heartbreak, final, or the inevitable parking ticket.
Don’t get me wrong, college is awesome. But there are many nights where you'll be running on Starbucks and Five Hour Energy Shots, praying for at least three hours of sleep so you won’t be a complete zombie for your final, and barely pushing through the day with that fake smile you give your professor on the way out of class. You are going to have days where you hate yourself for the stupid mistakes you made and how naive you could be. And yes, there will be days even right before you graduate where you wonder what exactly you're supposed to do for that little thing called “the rest of your life”.
If you choose to be happy during these days, you will smile occasionally. You will look perfect for your Instagram picture, be able to fake laugh for your "candids," and be able to sorta get by each day. But at night when all your thoughts are jumbled and you lie wide awake unsure about the future, you think about all your mistakes and what ifs, wondering why that guy never texted you back or if your happiness will disappear. Your thoughts will drive you wild because despite your belief that your happiness will help you make it through; it is temporary.
Happiness allows the mind to escape your problems. Joy allows you to face your problems with a belief that everything is working how it should be because some big guy upstairs has got it all under control. Happiness is a temporary feeling, while joy is a character trait one embodies. You shouldn’t be happy, you should choose joy.
In order to make it through college, you can’t be happy. Happiness will not be there when you make a 42 on your Biology Final. Happiness will not be there when you get broken up with by the guy you swore was the one. However, if you choose to be a joyful person, then suddenly you are facing each problem with the belief that life will workout and you will be okay. You know your present circumstances are only temporary and hold the belief that in the end, you will understand why. When you are joyful, your smile isn’t a fake cover up for your real feelings. Joy requires understanding, love, hope, trust, and most importantly, not happiness.
One of my best friends in college thought she had the best day of her life. She passed her hardest class with a B, and even got asked out by an older guy she was crushing hard on. However that night, everything changed when she accidentally peed on her date. And no, I don’t mean just a little trickle no one notices...there was a noticeable puddle on the concrete in the parking lot. Her reaction wasn’t what mine would have been (tears, screams, and denial), it was laughter. She took a humiliating situation and laughed it off because as silly but mortifying peeing your pants on a date can be, she knew it wasn’t the end of the world. So why not choose joy even in the world’s most embarrassing story?
Joy isn’t ignoring your problems; its facing them with the hope that the Lord has so much more to offer then your present circumstances. With happiness, you can push through the day, but with joy, you can wake up knowing you are not in control and everything will be alright. Your emotions and happiness in college can change in an instant, that's why you need to be founded on a fruit of the spirit that is inspired by Your Creator. He will use it to help you face your finals, heartbreaks and drama with humility, understanding and peace.
So don’t be happy, college is harder than a fake smile. Be joyful and maybe just maybe you’ll make it out alive… even if you pee on your dream date.
