All of us want to have a Happy New Year. But for most of us, it seems like 2024 is just like a stick of dynamite that could blast off at a moment’s notice.
The video below by Bethy is a great object lesson for us adults as well as the kids in her video class. That happiness balloon is ready to go bang!
Happiness is a real emotion that we can capture. There will be happy times ahead but how do we keep that happiness going non-stop?
We can’t….we must recognize that we live in a fallen world and that we are not in heaven yet. It is unrealistic to think that we can somehow find fulfillment in this world. Jesus said that in this world we would have tribulation. Ok there goes the world’s promises to somehow give us what only God can provide. We will always find disappointment in life. We will never wake up any day and find life without problems.
Life is bittersweet. The world gives us promises and expectations but they are far from perfect. They disappoint sooner or later.
Jesus said that we should stop chasing happiness in this world. It’s like trying to catch a butterfly without a net. Instead, Jesus said that we should “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 7:33).
This acronym helps to understand JOY better, J- Jesus, O- Others, Y – Yourself. Joy is counterintuitive in that we are tempted to live for self, to do things my way and then think about others and/or God. Dying to self certainly is not a path most of us would choose. But, Jesus chose to leave heaven and die for us.
Our calling from God is to take up our cross and follow Him.
For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
How can I experience joy in my Christian life? The link below from Got Questions provides an excellent answer. As for our video from Bethy, the question is
Do you have Living Water inside of you?
https://www.gotquestions.org/joy-Christian.html
