James Henley

Thoughts on Joy

I’ve been thinking a little bit about what it means to nurture a culture of joy in church/community/wherever. I know that there’s a whole wealth of theological work done on the concept of joy, most of which I haven’t read or examined, but I want to explore some of what it might and might not mean to pursue joy as a Christian community.

1. It doesn’t mean the same as happiness.

At least not necessarily. I don’t think that pursuing joy should necessarily mean pursuing happiness, laughter or fun - even though these things are important. Happiness seems to be something which is momentary and temporary - where as joy seems to be something which is deeper and lasting.

2. It doesn’t mean a lack of ambition.

Having joy doesn’t mean not having any ambition or desire to move on or change. Having joy must still allow us to walk the tension between being content in the present and pursuing a future which is different and better, and which looks more like the Kingdom of God.

3. It doesn’t mean being in denial.

Being joyful can’t mean living in denial of things in the past which have caused brokenness or hurt. And it doesn’t mean denying our own brokenness and damage in the present. Joy must be a mindset which can exist alongside our present struggles or our past hurt.

4. It means being thankful.

Having joy means having an orientation of thankfulness. It means being able to thank God for life, the world, for stuff that goes well, and for his ability to work through the stuff that doesn’t go well. It means being able to find something to be thankful for even in the midst of trouble, struggle and hurt.

5. It means a bigger perspective.

Joy means understanding a bigger perspective than our own. It means a life lived not just on a horizontal axis, but also on the vertical. It means developing an awareness and awe of a God who is infinite and in control.

6. It means rejoicing in people.

Finding joy in the happiness and the gift of the people around us is vital to developing a culture of joy. Achievements and goals fade and are surpassed, but people and relationships are longer lasting.

7. It means relishing the story we find ourselves in.

Joy means understanding our part in God’s story, and means relishing and devouring the parts of the story which go before us. It means accepting our part in the story, and understanding the connection between ourselves and God’s people who went before us, and rejoicing in a God who is active, faithful and trustworthy.

How would you define joy?