Happy Is Great, Until You're Sad
One of my Jesus following heroes, Dallas Willard defines (Biblical) Joy:
Joy is not pleasure, a mere sensation, but a pervasive and constant sense of wellbeing. It claims our entire body and soul, both the physical and the non-physical side of the human self. Hope in the goodness of God is joy's indispensable support.
I LOVE THIS. Joy is not pleasure, a mere sensation, but a pervasive and constant sense of wellbeing. Think about this. I love the words used here. A pervasive (wide spread) and constant sense (understanding that something is true) of wellbeing. Wellbeing is a good and satisfied state of existence.
You can be happy, but not be Joy-Full. Happiness always fades to dissatisfaction whereas Joy is a constant sense of wellbeing. You can be sad but Joy-Full because Joy is a pervasive and constant sense of wellbeing. Joy is always available when Jesus is our constant. When we relinquish the outcomes of our day to Jesus we find true soul rest; true soul Joy.
These blogs may seem to be running together in concept and in action steps, but I am convinced that if we don’t practice these then we won’t own them. Jesus=Joy. So let’s stay close to Jesus today. Practice letting Him lead and trust that He’ll work out the outcomes of our day.
Joy is not pleasure, a mere sensation, but a pervasive and constant sense of wellbeing. It claims our entire body and soul, both the physical and the non-physical side of the human self. Hope in the goodness of God is joy's indispensable support.