4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you. Psalm 86:4
When people think of joy, they often mistake it for fun and happiness. Happiness certainly plays a part but joy goes deeper. Joy is that peaceful and contented realization that despite what you’re going through right now, all will be well. It eliminates fun especially when you’re in a dire, no-fun situation. Sure you can have fun when you’re in prison, for instance, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song many years ago, and I think it sums the problem up:
Anybody in their right mind
Would’ve given up their preaching and headed for home
They’ve been warned a hundred times
But something inside them keeps giving them hope
And just when you think they’d be crying
Instead of the tears, there’s joy in their eyes
What kind of joy is this
That counts it a blessing to suffer?
What kind of joy is this
That gives the prisoner his song?
What kind of joy could stare death in the face
And see it as sweet victory?
This is the joy of a soul that’s forgiven and free
Anybody else with his pain
Would wanna shake their fist at Heaven and give up the fight
‘Cause trouble had been Paul’s middle name
Ever since he’d been captured by God’s blinding light
But just when his hope should be dying
You listen and hear him singing a song
What kind of joy is this
That counts it a blessing to suffer?
What kind of joy is this
That gives the prisoner a song?
What kind of joy could stare death in the face
And see it as sweet victory?
This is the joy of a soul that’s forgiven and free
What kind of joy is this?
What kind of joy is this?
What kind of joy is this
The father has promised his children?
What kind of joy is this
That Jesus has come to reveal?
What kind of joy could give hope in this world
To someone just like you and me?
This is the joy of a soul that’s forgiven
I’ve found this joy for my soul is forgiven and free
What kind of joy is this?
Tell me what kind of joy
What kind of joy, what kind of joy?
The joy in this song is questioned because suffering, death, and imprisonment is not what we would consider happy and fun times.
Recount the times in your life that you had this kind of joy. If you’re like me, though, you probably struggle with this mindset and attitude in the midst of pain and trouble. You know you should be joyous but you’re in deep pain! It’s a perfectly normal reaction, but we need to be careful that we don’t become bitter from the experiences.
Perhaps even a better question is, are we joyous when we’re not experiencing problems and pain?