Pastor Kyle asked a question on Sunday, May 23rd of, “Are You Happy?” The moment I heard that question, I immediately snickered to myself. Am I happy? My mind first told me yes, then it moved on to maybe, and I finally ended that thought process with a resounding Of course not! Not right now, at least!

My mind was running crazy. Here is a run-down of my thought-process: I am beyond annoyed with my boss at work, I am stressed out from being involved in school and work this semester, I have less money than expected in my bank account and I have a final the tomorrow that I haven’t studied for yet. With all the craziness going on in my life, the “Are you happy?” question surely had to be a joke.

However, our Pastor quickly rephrased his question for his few minded-minded guests in the audience – namely me. He asked, simply, “Do you have joy?”

Now, I know that there is a difference between “joy and “happiness.” However, they do seem like they are interchangeable words for potentially the same emotion, don’t they?
Yet, Kyle explained that happiness was indeed only a fleeting emotion. He used the example of Disneyland to further his point. Kyle said that Disneyland is a great place, and when you go there, you have so much fun because you’re in a make-believe utopia. However, that happiness we find usually only lasts as long as the visit to that Magic Kingdom. Once we exit those gates, real life is there waiting.

Real joy, Kyle urged, is something much deeper and more internal. Real joy is something lasting.

Kyle stated a few different steps towards finding joy:
1. Joy comes from obeying God over the long haul of life.
2. Joy comes from loving people unconditionally.
3. Joy comes from finding a Titus in your life.
4. Joy comes from “cleaning out the closet.”
5. Joy comes when Satan’s greatest weapon against you becomes God’s greatest tool for you.

What I realized from analyzing these steps is that finding joy is a process. It is a process that involves two very important factors: you and God. Joy is never truly anything tangible or material. It can never really be associated with getting a new car or riding a new attraction at Disneyland. Joy finds its truth in the moments we find ourselves closer to God. It’s there when we open our closet of sin and shame to God, and let him take them from our hands. It’s there when we love people for all that they are, showing them at least a portion of the grace that God has bestowed on us.

Real joy is love, truth and forgiveness. And this joy shines the brightest as we cultivate honest relationships with God.

Do I have joy? It’s a bit of a process, but yes, I do.