Joy

Happiness is having a cheeseburger.

Sadness is not having a cheeseburger.

Joy is knowing that regardless of your current cheeseburger ownership, there is an over-abundance of cheeseburgers to come and you get to eat them forevermore with those who obey the Grill Master and the Grill Master. 

Ridiculous illustration? Oh most definitely. Yet truth and laughter is there. We get joy knowing that our King has blessings unending for us when we enter his kingdom, which is not exclusively some distant, far-off, future reality. His joy can be lived now.

Colossians 1:13-14 says:

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

In this is our joy. Jesus, King Jesus, has delivered, has rescued us from darkness. Not "will deliver." HE HAS DELIVERED US FROM DARKNESS. We are in his kingdom, where we find peace, love, joy, confidence, eternity, our Creator. Joy is knowing that our Creator empowers us to do great things. 

Jesus has rescued us and many others from darkness.

He healed a man born blind. He made the lame walk. He cast out demons. He liberated. 

Jesus is our joy. 

Trials will come. Hardship will take over. There will be anxiety, confusion, sorrow, mourning, temptation, doubt, fear, anger, and more. But our King has delivered us. When these things appear, cast them out in the name of Jesus. Follow him, he empowers us. 

If you're hurt, Jesus heals.

If you are scared, trust in Jesus.

If you are worried, Jesus offers peace. 

Are you happy? Turn to Jesus! He is King and Creator of all things good. Rejoice in him always, again I say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

In all things, rejoice. Our King gives us joy. Sadness will come. Embrace it. Never forget that He is King. He makes the blind to see, the lame to walk. Opens prison doors, sets the captives free. He redeems us and all of the world. His might is mighty, mightier than all others. Our King lives, and he is powerful. Take joy as he empowers us. 

His joy is for all. Live joyfully; speak of the King.