The holidays are a great time for happiness. It is a time to get together with family and friends, but if you are anything like my family happiness can turn to sadness/anger real fast when you are around your family. The laughter turns to stress at the family parties, and I’m left wondering, was it really joy after all?
We are entering into Christmas time where we will begin to see this word JOY written everywhere: On Christmas Ornaments, on Fireplace Mantels, and on Christmas Cards. We hear, “Joy to the World, Peace on Earth, Good Will towards men (and women)”. But what I am seeing is a REAL LACK OF JOY in this world.
Whether it is around Christmas, or just a random Tuesday in July, our culture seems to be severely lacking in the joy department. Even in the church the concept of joy doesn’t seem to stand out.”
In the midst of this season I want us to remember this...
HAPPINESS IS JOY BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT JOY IS HAPPINESS DESPITE THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Not everything is going to go our way, but God wants us to have joy despite that.
2 Corinthians 6:10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. (NLT)