Joy is a Decision

“Joy is a decision, a really brave one, about how you are going to respond to life.”  Wess Stafford

There’s an old joke about psychiatry. “How many psychiatrists does it take to change a lightbulb?” The answer: “Only one,  but the lightbulb has to want to be changed. It may be a joke but the reality that happiness is a choice is not. All the psychiatrists, therapists and pastors in the world can’t change a person who doesn’t desire to be changed. 

  For the most part, we are as happy as we choose to be. As B.A. Baracus of A-Team fame would say, “I pity the fool.” I truly pity the spouse or parent or pastor or…who foolishly attempts to make an unhappy person happy.

  We’re halfway through our series, Philippians: Joy No Matter What. It’s easy in a study of a book of the Bible to lose the big picture. This week, please take the time to re-read those four short chapters. The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Spirit, gives us the key to having joy.

  The Greek that our New Testament is written in is one of the most expressive and definitive of all time. Eutuches was one of their words for happiness. It meant “fleeting earthly happiness.” It was the kind of happiness which was mostly on the outside. It was dependent on the right circumstances, being around the right people or having the right things. The obvious problem is that no one can control their circumstances or being around the right people or even having the right things.

  Makarios was another ancient Greek word for happiness. This word was used when referring to inner happiness which is independent of circumstances, people, or things. It’s a deep-down inner happiness that doesn’t depend on externals. Simply put, it’s happiness from the inside out.

  Interestingly, it’s the same word that Greek religion used for the happiness of their gods. It was a happiness free from care, work, even death. The word came to mean heavenly “godlike life on earth.” It’s the kind of happiness that we truly long for.

  Mature individuals know that situational, relational, and material happiness is very fleeting. You may be able to go to Disney World for vacation but no one can live there, very soon you must return to reality.

  Interestingly, the Bible (much of which was written in Greek), never uses the word eutuches. Every biblical reference to happiness is makarios. What’s even better is that the Bible repeatedly talks in terms of offering and even expecting us to pursue and achieve this heavenly happiness while here on earth…yet there are two requirements.  

  First, you will never have heavenly happiness (or what Scripture calls joy) without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Joy is the second fruit of the Spirit. Salvation is the key to having this kind of happiness. Heavenly happiness begins with having our sins forgiven as a result of personal faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior from our sin.

  Second, to live in this happiness of heaven on earth requires doing it heaven’s way. That way is spelled out quite clearly in the Bible which is sort of a handbook to heaven.  

  In his book, Making Happiness Happen, pastor and author, Leith C. Anderson shares this account:  

  “A Southern Baptist preacher tells about two hospital patients early in his ministry. The first was a middle-age woman about to be released after successful treatment. As soon as the pastor entered her room, she started to complain. She criticized him for not coming to visit much sooner. She complained about the hospital food, the nursing staff, and the lack of visits by members of her family. It was an awful experience and she was glad to be going home.

  The preacher’s next stop was another middle-aged woman on the same floor of the hospital. Even the best of experienced pastors have trouble getting psyched up for two such visits in a row—but he went to see her anyway. This lady’s circumstances were quite different. She was suffering from terminal cancer and would never be going home from the hospital, yet her spirits were high. He could sense her warmth and enthusiasm as soon as he stepped into the room. She thanked him for coming but assured him that she always had plenty of company and he might better use his time visiting those with greater needs. Next, she raved about the nursing staff and their fabulous care. They met her every need without being asked. Even the food was outstanding and there was plenty of it. Finally, she gave a big grin while explaining that she only had two teeth left but, “Thank the Lord, they meet in the middle!”

  The greatest difference between these two patients was not their circumstances but their perspectives. Ironically, the woman with more had chosen a negative perspective and the woman with less had chosen a positive perspective. Each had the option of going either way and each chose the perspective for seeing her circumstances.”

  Happiness is a choice, yet we need the Spirit working in us from the inside out to have it. One of my favorite passages is 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Those verses have been an anchor for my soul nearly fifty years: “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

  Satan loves it when the people of God lose heart and give in to anger, fear, depression, and countless other joy killing emotions. Yet, for the believer, for the one who has committed their life to Christ, this world is as bad as it gets. Everything, no matter how terrible, even if like that woman in the hospital we have terminal cancer, is temporary. It’s also momentary whereas what awaits us is eternal. We have something that those who do not know our Savior do not have. We know that we’re all going to get Home before dark! And that my friend is something to give us constant joy even in the midst of a crumbling world. We’re not Home yet!   

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.