Lessons From the Secret Place – Lesson 4: Joy is God’s Will for His Children

When I woke up on Friday morning a children’s song about happiness was running over and over in my mind.  I have been learning that the song on my mind when I awaken is usually something the Lord wants to speak to me about in the secret place.

As I began journaling, I asked the Lord what he wanted to teach me about happiness.  I want to share with you what I received.  

God’s desire for us is joy.  The world’s happiness is a byproduct of our circumstances.  God’s joy is the work of Holy Spirit deep within our soul that allows us to walk in God’s joy and peace even when our circumstances are not “happy.”  Joy is lasting, happiness is fleeting!

The world seeks happiness at any cost.  They will compromise with sin and self-destructive behaviors all in their pursuit of happiness- only in the end to “find” it and then to realize that it has once again slipped away. 

The pursuit of happiness is always a dead end.  Yes, moments of happiness appear along the path but in the end it will not last.  

God’s joy, on the other hand, always leads to life.  His joy is steadfast and stable.  

Happiness is like a fire.  It often burns bright and intense, but when the fuel is gone, so is the flame.

Joy is like the air we breathe; it is always available and constant.  It needs no fuel to ignite it, it is provided by God’s grace and mercy.  Because it is not based on circumstances, His joy gives strength through even the darkest hours. It allows us to walk above the storm without being sucked under the crashing waves.  

Because God is the source of our joy, we can be confident that it will be there when we need it!!

In Webster’s 1828 dictionary happy is defined: Lucky; fortunate; successful; Prosperous; having secure possession of good; that supplies pleasure; that furnishes enjoyment; agreeable; applied to things; as a happy condition.

There are additional definitions given, however, like the ones I have listed, in each definition, the condition of being happy is based on circumstances or condition now.  

The word “happy” is found 28 times in the King James Version of the Bible. I will not list all the references but here are a few accompanied by the meaning.

Reference: Acts 26:2, I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

Meaning: a primitive root; to be {tranquil} that {is} secure or successful

Reference: Psalm 128:2, For you shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you will be happy, and it shall be well with you.

Meaning: to be straight (used in the widest {sense} especially to be {level} right: happy); figuratively to go {forward} be {honest} prosper

Reference: James 5:11, Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Meaning: to beatify that is pronounce (or esteem) fortunate

Reference:  Romans 14:22, Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

Meaning: supremely blest; by extension fortunate well off

Again, here we see that in each reference given the meaning of “happy” is based on current circumstances.

In comparison, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible defines joy as: gladness, mirth; exultation, rejoicing; delight; to marvel or wonder; to spin around (rejoice). 

“Joy” is used 165 times in the King James Version.  

Reference: Habakkuk 3:18, Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Reference: Zephaniah 3:17, The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Meaning:  properly to spin around (under the influence of any violent {emotion}) that {is} usually {rejoice}

Reference: Nehemiah 8:10, Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Meaning: rejoicing

Reference: Psalm 51:12, Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Reference: Jeremiah 15:16, Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Definition: cheerfulness; specifically welcome

Reference: Psalm 5:11, But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

Reference: Psalm 32:11, Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Definition: aloud for {joy} cry {out} be {joyful} ({greatly} make to) {rejoice} (cause to) shout (for {joy}) (cause to) sing ({aloud} for {joy} {out}) triumph

Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

As seen in the references about joy, which is a fruit of the Spirit is based on our knowledge of who we are and who God is. It is given to us by God!

In one of his sermons, Pastor John K. Jenkins, Sr. points out that the joy of the Lord is a bubbling up of contentment we feel from being connected to God. It is entirely unrelated to enjoyable circumstances. Only this supernatural joy, adds Jenkins, can give us “calm delight in the midst of hell” and a “cheerfulness even when life isn’t cheerful.”  

Father, today I ask you to teach us how to walk in your joy.  May we be people who walk by faith which leads to joy, not by sight which brings temporary happiness or fear!  Help us to focus on the source of our joy and peace – Jesus our Savior and Friend!!  

Works Cited:
i https://www.josh.org/joy-of-the-lord-how-get-it




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