Happiness, It’s everywhere. There are songs about it, quotes on every social network, movies, and books all about happiness. We as humans are adamant on finding and pursuing happiness. Now I’m not saying that this is a bad thing, happiness is great. I love being a happy person and feeling happy but I’ve recently been enlightened to a thought that intrigued me and made me rethink the pursuit of happiness bandwagon.
Happiness is a feeling, a feeling that’s fleeting. So why would I spend my whole life pursuing something that will constantly be leaving me?
About a year ago I was having coffee with my best friend and I was telling him about how I was feeling a sadness, one that just felt so consuming. His reply to my struggle, “Instead of trying to pursue happiness, find joy.” And those words have stayed with me ever since. You see you can’t feel happiness and sorrow at the same moment, they’re opposite emotions; you can find joy in sorrow though.
Joy it’s something that we have inside of ourselves, it’s not just a fleeting feeling. I’ve been learning over the past year how to find joy instead of wanting to pursue happiness, let me tell you finding joy is something that can’t be compared to.
The thing about joy is that it’s a constant, even when we are feeling the deepest sorrow.
James 1: 2-3 says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”
Let that sink in, “consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials” what? I should have joy whenever I am going through a trial? How are we supposed to come across that?
It seems crazy, one day you’re feeling happiness here and there and the next you just have pure joy for the rest of the trials of your life. No, that doesn’t seem right. You see I think that’s the whole point of “finding your joy”, you can’t just flip a switch one day and have “pure joy”.
Take a minute and close your eyes; in the chaos of your life just breathe, and listen. Listen to the laughter, the sound of the cars, the voices of the ones who love you, the breeze going through the trees. Listen to life, constantly going around you, and feel the joy.
I found my joy over this past year. I found it in Christ. In the ever-growing trials and accomplishments of our lives He gripped my heart and placed joy in it. When you find it, you want to share it with the world; why wouldn’t someone want a peace in their heart?
Don’t be afraid to look for your joy; ask questions, ask for help, no one said you had to do this on your own.
So reader I will leave you with this, “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9
