To start off, whenever this topic is brought up or even mentioned casually, I immediately think of an Adventures in Odyssey episode I used to listen to all the time when I was younger. I don't know if you listened to it at all growing up, but I loved the radio show and we had tapes and tapes and tapes of episodes. Anyway, the episode was called “Count It All Joy.” I started to type out a summary, but then found this which sums it up better than I can. It’s based on the verses: James 1:2-3 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." Basically what I always remember from it is the title and in particular Mr. Whitaker’s explanation about how joy and happiness are not the same thing.
Although I absolutely struggle with maintaining a conscious focus on the joy that is found in Christ, ever since I heard that episode I have made an effort to keep joy and happiness separate and distinct in my head. I suppose I started here, because this distinction sort of forms the basis for many of my thoughts on the subject. The simplest way I can explain the difference how I see it is that happiness is an emotion – it can be altered by endorphins, chemicals, events, etc. And joy is a measure of the comprehension of the love of Christ – this is not dependent upon circumstances.
Personally, I tend to experience happiness when circumstances in my life are pleasing –for example: when I’m playing rugby or basketball or sports. On the other hand, I experience the most constant joy when I’m in a good place in my walk with Christ, when I’m doing something focused on Him, or when I am able to recognize God’s power at work in the world.
A few years ago, I was going through a particularly rough time in my life as far as social, school and personal happiness goes. It is one of the saddest times I can remember (though I will readily admit that most people in the world have been through much worse times). And somewhere in this time, someone told me that I seemed to be really joyful all of the time. I hadn’t even really realized it, but in spite of all of these worldly things going badly, or perhaps because of it, I was very focused on my faith. I focused much of the effort and concern and compassion I tend to normally focus on friendships on my relationship with Christ and as a result, I ended up so much more fulfilled and happy as time passed.
From this and similar experiences, I’ve begun to realize that joy leads to happiness. And happiness can lead to joy if my perspective is correctly aligned. In order for the happiness to lead to joy, I need to take the time to attribute the happiness to its root instead of simply leaving it at the shallow, simplified understanding of “I’m happy because I’m in Scotland and the view from this mountain is beautiful” or “I’m happy because I’m enjoying an awesome day road-tripping with friends.” Instead, it becomes: “I’m joyful because the Lord has created a beautiful, awe-inspiring, artistic landscape for me to enjoy, and the same Lord created me” and “I’m joyful because the Lord has blessed me with wonderful friends who share in my love of Him and whom I will be able to spend an eternity with.”
And that last one leads me to where these thoughts have brought me lately…which relates to the sadness and brokenness part of your question.
The knowledge of graduation has made this year one of the saddest years so far. And yet, it has also been one of the happiest in recent memory for me. The other night at a Christmas party, I was totally caught off guard by my own emotions. I sat there in the midst of it thinking to myself how wonderful it was that we were all gathered together, despite past wrongs and despite differences, and I thought about how much I love everyone there…and then I realized that this is the last Christmas(time) we’ll all be together. It was one of those “Oh, this is so great, we’ll have to do it again ne….oh…wait…” *tears* Seriously, I almost completely lost it.
And the only way I was able to pull it together was by shifting perspective yet again. Because the root of the happiness and sadness in it all is that God has provided us with everything we need and he has provided us with more than we could ever imagine for ourselves. And all that love I felt and feel is directly and deeply rooted and anchored in Christ’s love for all of us. And although this particular good is going to come to an end, there is joy in its existence now and there is joy in knowing that Christ has sacrificed himself so that we can all share in His love forever.
Even though it may seem that I’m claiming to be able to switch this perspective over on command, that’s certainly not true. It’s definitely something I struggle with. And talking about it makes me wonder about whether there is any legitimacy at all in feeling sad. Of course, I know that there is a time to be sad. And when I really think about why I’m sad about leaving, it makes sense. I’m sad at the thought of being separated from my friends here. I’m sad at the loss of Christian community. I’m sad at the loss of direction in my life.
All of these things, if they were to actually happen would be a true cause for sadness. We are not meant to live without God-honoring relationships. We are not made to live outside of the Church (meaning the body of believers, not physical church). And we are not meant to live without direction. But I think that if I take the time to step back, I can see that they don’t need to happen. If I trust in the Lord, he will provide each of these things. But because I cannot see that now, Satan is tempting me to let this sadness turn to despair. And despair is not something that Christians should experience.
“7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4: 7-10.
What I glean from this is that sadness is necessary in the life of Christians so that the true power and scope of Christ’s Joy and Love can be displayed. If Christians remained joyful only when they were happy, it would not be much of a testimony, because to show peace and contentment when things are pleasurable is a part of even our fallen nature. But living in His Joy while enduring sadness points directly to God and His Glory. Despair only points to sin and brokenness. This reminds me of a hymn I love called “Before the Throne of God Above." I will leave you with one of the verses:
“When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin"
