Joy & Encouragement May Not Always Be Tied To Happiness & Success
Word-Of-The-Day: ‘<Paul writes> Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.’ (Philemon 1:7)
It may be a bit early to think about Christmas, and certainly just after Labor Day in southwest Florida, with the temperatures still in the 90’s and the possibility of a hurricane forming before that season ends, Christmas still seems far off. However, though I haven’t been looking, I’m certain there are stores that already have Christmas stuff up. I’m not a fan of this; I believe it gets some of us burnt out before the holidays arrive.
Of course, I am a curmudgeon of sorts in terms of holidays, as events, age, and time have muted some of the happy feelings usually associated with them. However, I do have great Joy in them. How can I have Joy without happiness? Can we be encouraged though our chance of being successful in having that happy feeling is almost nil?
Paul wrote his shortest Canonical (accepted as Scripture) epistle or letter to Philemon on/after 61 AD, and was likely a prisoner when he wrote this. The letter was to have Philemon forgive his escaped slave Onesimus and accept him as a fellow brother in Christ. Philemon was likely brought to salvation in one of Paul’s trips to either Greece or Asia Minor (possibly Ephesus).
Paul was likely alone, with Timothy and/or Luke visiting him occasionally in prison. He likely was not happy, transferred from a rented home to a jail cell, thanks to the Roman Emperor Nero’s persecution of Christians. Being in a prison that was dark and probably rat-infested, Paul was eating only what Timothy or Luke brought him. The cell was likely damp and there was no sewage system (let alone a ‘toilet’) to get rid of the garbage and human waste. Yet Paul states, many times throughout his letters, that he has Joy during this time of his life.
In Philemon, he is joyful that Philemon is not only saved but is developing as a Christian helping other Christians, and others to become Christians. Paul is in a position where he is has no reason to be happy, but yet he is Joyful in seeing Philemon being a committed Christian. Paul has no reason to be encouraged in his situation, yet Paul is encouraged by the actions of Philemon and other Christians.
This is what, at minimum, we should experience at all times. Joy and happiness are not necessarily always in combination, but at the minimum, we should always have Joy. Success and encouragement are not necessarily always in combination, but at the minimum, we should be encouraged.
What is Joy? Joy is the sense of fulfillment, or contentment, from the Holy Spirit that the Will of Christ, what He wants us to do, is being done. What is encouragement? Encouragement is the sense of confidence, through words or deeds, from the Holy Spirit that the Will of Christ is being done. Thus we may go through a turbulent time that is very unpleasing but we can still feel fulfillment and confidence that God’s Will is being accomplished.
For example, my lukewarm attitude over the secular façade of Christmas does not diminish the Joy and encouragement I feel over the true meaning of Christmas, that ‘God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten Son so that none should perish but all should gain Everlasting Life with Him in Heaven, if only One believes Jesus is Lord‘ (John 3:16). I can (and have been) ambivalent to the secular, commercialized trappings of Christmas but content in Joy over the Spirit of Christmas.
This is what we should not lose sight on for this upcoming Holiday season (and it is approaching quite rapidly). Thanksgiving is not about the turkey, nor is Christmas about the tree; Thanksgiving is about letting God know we are thankful over all that he has provided (especially His Agape Love), and Christmas is about the gift of Jesus (His Life, Death, & Resurrection all in Sacrifice for us).
I pray that you (and we) can also have happiness included in with our Joy, and success included with our Encouragement – Amen!
