Defining Joy

Written by Mr. Jason Gainey, MDiv, MEd

Sometimes the best way to define something like JOY is to state what she is not.

JOY is not the absence of a problem. There are many struggling today yet have JOY. She is not happiness, because some in deep grief have found her there. Others at rock bottom have found JOY there.

While serving in the jungles of Guatemala, I found people living in trash heaps, broke and even starving who possessed what appeared to be JOY.

Perhaps JOY is contentment without resignation?

Maybe JOY is vision that gives peace within trauma.

Better yet, maybe she is a sense of relaxation mixed with strong resolve.

“...The joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Now I want to know, how do you describe JOY?