Have you ever tried to do a keyword search for the term ‘happiness’ and ‘Jesus’ together in scripture? It doesn’t exist. And it won’t matter what version of the bible you’re using, I checked them all. Yet, if you listen closely, most of what people are speaking and singing about, even striving for today is this word ‘happy’. Are we happy? Yes, No? If not, why not? What do we need to do to be ‘happy’? Deception starts to creep in through doubt and we make up a pleasant story that God would want us all to be ‘happy’. So we alter our actions to align with this new found theology, aiming for a cheap imitation of the true call Jesus did use… ‘joy’.

If we examined the full body of ‘joy’, we’d find a description more like hardships, pain, trials and tears coupled with stability, serenity and comfort. I like how the dictionary describes ‘joy’ as treasure. Quite honestly, I think most of us settle for a word like ‘happiness’ out of laziness. Anything authentic costs more and consequently has more value; it requires more time and effort than its counterfeit.

I noticed in the dictionary ‘joy’ was also described as ‘greater happiness’. Joy has depth. A person must dig below the surface of happiness to reach the richness of what Jesus was talking about. For the most part, we weren’t all called to strap on some sandals and walk the sands of the earth in search of joy. Instead, we’re left to learn how to live in the ‘in between’; in the pain and conflicts, sometimes in the suffering while experiencing purpose, stability, comfort and contentment.

I can think of no better example than what Hebrews notes as the deeper ‘joy’ Jesus had in His heart, that carried Him to the cross. Isn’t it amazing that if we’re experiencing joy, the real riches of joy, we could actually suffer willingly for the sake of someone else and still be content? That’s something happiness could never do because it’s centered around pleasing oneself.

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

What the world has to offer is only a rip off of what God can give. So next time you’re tempted to alter your lifestyle around the lyrics and language society says should ‘please’ you, I pray you won’t settle on the surface or short term, but that you’ll dig a little deeper, stay in there a little longer to uncover the livelihood Jesus’s lips spoke of…  the authentic life of ‘joy’.