Joy is Possible

Maybe it hasn’t come through here, but on Instagram I’ve been sharing often about joy. I feel like God has been teaching me a lot about joy recently and it's seriously exciting! It’s become a theme in my life. But I’ve been using the phrases ‘joy is possible’ and ‘choose joy’ a lot, and I wanted to expand on them. How is joy is possible? What does it mean to choose joy?

Joy seems absent in our world. I realize there are sad and horrible things going on, and it is depressing. But joy is possible despite that. I see people looking down and gloomy, like life is too overwhelming, and this is what I want to say: joy is possible, even here, even now. Even ____ – whatever it is you’re going through. I’ve come to believe joy is always possible, and I want to shout it loud.

And here’s why it’s possible: true, lasting, overflowing joy comes from God. Galatians 5:22 says it’s a fruit of the Holy Spirit. There isn’t a time God is out of reach; He’s not subject to the changeable things around us. God is always there, joy is part of God, and therefore joy is always possible. But we have to choose it.

God doesn’t force us into being joyful, but every day, in every situation, He gives us that choice. Even if I’m overwhelmed with assignments and things to be done, or I’m discouraged with myself or the people around me, I can still choose to look to God and be joyful. That's what I’ve been learning, and it’s so, so cool. We get that choice! We can live above our circumstances!

I remember the story of Paul and Silas, in Acts. They were thrown into the highest security part of prison for preaching the gospel. They were whipped, and they had their feet locked in stocks – it’s impossible for them to have been without pain. And yet, it says ‘Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises to God.’ (Acts 16:25) They chose joy despite their circumstances. 

But joy doesn’t always look like fun and thrills, or what we call happiness. Joy might not mean smiling every moment, or dancing throughout the day because life is that good. Choosing joy doesn’t exempt us from experiencing other emotions, but it does mean we have a quiet knowledge that God is, and there’s hope we can rest and rejoice in. Sometimes it feels a lot like peace, being still and knowing God.

For me, choosing joy has looked like pausing in the middle of stressful thoughts to remember I have a choice. It’s reminding myself when unfair situations come up I can be joyful anyway. It’s being tired, but thinking of things I have to be happy about. It’s reading the Word with fresh eyes – just look how awesome God is! It’s also been smiles and hugs with my sister and loud exclamations about some intricate creation or fact. Little things thrill me, and it feels so good. It’s like a mix of contentment and rest and hope, but brought alive. 

So to everyone, everyone, no matter your situation or how unattainable it sounds, this is my message: JOY IS POSSIBLE. I want you to believe it, to choose it, and to experience it, because there’s nothing like it.