C.S. Lewis tells of a time when his wife, Joy, could not shake a feeling that God was right at her elbow. He was seeking her attention and she was reluctant to encounter him. Surely, he was going to ask her to do something difficult or remind of her of some secret shortcoming.

But finally, she gave in and stilled herself enough to discern what he might be saying. She reported that God was making no demands on her. He simply wanted to give her something, and that something was joy.

Jesus tells us that joy is on offer. I and many others find joy elusive. Indeed, some of us can say that our lives are a ceaseless search for joy, a longing to receive such a gift. Perhaps we don’t experience it as we should because we are preoccupied with its relation: happiness. We can never be happy all the time: too much brokenness in our world for that to happen.

But joy is different. It is glad confidence in the goodness of God. Whereas happiness is an emotional reaction to favourable circumstances. Joy can be constant because it is based on the constant goodness of God. Happiness is variable as circumstances are variable.

If I turn my face away from God, or worry he is going to let me down or set me some impossible tasks, I am rejecting joy. If I feel under condemnation having committed one sin too many, then the offer of joy remains just that: an offer. Our lack of joy springs not from adverse circumstances or personality type.

It springs from keeping a foolishly “safe” distance from the one and only joy giver.

Blessings,