‘Joy to the World’ is a song that many of us grew up singing at Christmas time. As I look at the world today I see many things that do not speak of joy, however, believers are postured for joy, not merely happiness.
Happiness is not an emotion that exists for long outside of circumstances. It is dependent on what is occurring in the moment, and we know that moments are fleeting. You can be happy one moment and sad the next because it is from our soul, our mind, will, and emotions. Joy is something quite different. Happiness leaves but joy remains
Joy is what radiates from our spirit, and it is eternal. It has permanent presence in a child of God. We know true joy because we know God. Our joy is not watered down in trials of this world because our joy is not dependent on this world.
Our joy is from the Father. We live in Him through Jesus, and our joy is immeasurably more than we can truly understand. The Spirit of God anoints us with joy and our cup truly overflows as we are postured for the joy that only the Holy Spirit delivers. Being postured for joy is not something you have to work at as a believer. It is an eternal gift that will never run dry!
Proverbs 10:28 Lovers of God have a joyful feast of gladness, but the ungodly see their hopes vanish right before their eyes.
1 Peter 1:8-9 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 end result of your faith the salvation of your souls.