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I LIKE MY JOY STRAIGHT UP, or maybe neat: pure, with no rocks at all.
But is that what joy is all about?
Webster’s calls joy “the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.” So when all’s right with the world: Ah, joy….
Then why does St. Paul say, after describing more troubles than anyone should have to bear, that he is “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing”? (2 Corinthians 6:10)
Why does James begin his letter, “Consider it all joy…when you meet various trials”? (James 1:2)
It seems there’s something different going on in the Christian definition of joy. In fact, to the Christian, trials and testing are actually reasons for joy. Here are some things I discovered, looking through the New Testament. But don’t take my word for it: I’ll list them with their references so you can do some discovering on your own:
- Trials give us a share in Christ’s suffering (1 Peter 4:12-13)
- Trials give us a share in Christ’s comfort, equipping us to minister to others (2 Corinthians 1:4-6)
- Trials build maturity and character (James 1:2-4. Note also Catechism, 2847!)
- Trials yield eternal gain (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
- Trials allow God’s strength to show through me (2 Corinthians 12:9-10. While you’re at it: you might as well read all of 2 Corinthians)
- Testing builds faith and brings joy (Philippians 4:13)
- Testing refines us, conforms us to Christ (1 Peter 1:6)
I think I’ll take my joy on the rocks after all.
© 2015 Sarah Christmyer.
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I was just finishing a update on my little sister who is dealing beautifully with her second bought of cancer, God is given her so much strength during this time, and as I pushed the send button this article came up and I knew it was a blessing to share to keep our spirits high and to lift others. thanks properly sent and will be properly used in our family
As for me, I like mine “shaken, not stirred.” But, as I was reading your excellent and challenging post, I remembered Fr. Peter Cameron’s Editorial this month in Magnificat on “eucatastrophe.” The word was coined by J.R.R. Tolkien to mean, as Fr. Cameron writes: “Just as the hero of a mythical tale is on the verge of a disastrous dead end, with his demise looming before him, terrible and inevitable, the eucatastrophe happens: ‘The good catastrophe, the sudden joyous “turn”: …this joy is a sudden and miraculous grace….it denies (in the face of much evidence, if you will) universal defeat…, giving a fleeting glimpse of joy. Joy beyond the walls of the world, poignant as grief.’ Tolkien considered the Incarnation as the eucatastrophe of human history, and the Resurrection the eucatastrophe of the Incarnation.” A lovely way to characterize what Christ has done for us and what we must do with our suffering leading to incredible joy. Thank you so much for your beautiful post.
Your writing reminds me of the verse telling us why Jesus had such joy: “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; THEREFORE God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” Fantastic! Our key to joy! I know that I don’t truly hate certain things that to God is straight wickedness. Onwards and Upwards!
Love this post… and this morning during my morning prayer a little slip of paper fell out of my Bible. I think it’s been wedged in there between the pages for a while. On it was a quote someone wrote down for me, and it made me think of this article.
“The endurance of suffering does not engender joy, but it is the joy already there that enables us to endure the suffering.” ~St. Francis of Assisi
Blessings!
Kelly
Kelly, that’s a wonderful quote! Thanks for sharing it.