JOY

 

I was reminiscing with an old friend the other day. We laughed about the memories of our youth and I cried when our conversation was over. I am often taken back to my past during this hard adjustment to what I consider the last stage of my life.

I reflected on how carefree we were but on serious reflection, we were not really happy because we yearned for what we did not have, marriage and family. It seems to be in the nature of all mortals to long for something else other than what they already have. I guess it is because we are so intent on being happy all the time that we always think something else will give us that.

What we forget is that this life was not designed for consistent and lasting happiness but only for snippets of such so that we will have the motivation for its pursuit in the long run. If true happiness could be found in this life, we would cease to strive for our eternal destiny, which can offer us not only lasting happiness but also JOY. As Lehi put it so wisely to his children: “Adam fell that men might be, and men are, that they might have joy.” (2 Nephi 2:25)

So what is this joy? Immediately following this statement, Lehi expounded on redemption through Jesus Christ, obedience to His commandments, and eternal life. The Saviour confirmed this when he said: “….in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full” (D&C 101:36). He elaborated on that by saying we should not fear death, nor care for the life of the body, but to look beyond, to eternal life (D&C v 37). In other words, look toward what I can give you, which is the fullness of joy as you embrace eternal life. This is the happiness worth waiting for.

The downside of the pursuit of happiness here and now is losing the eternal perspective. Some of us  get confused and think that happiness can be found in unholy places, with Satan’s counterfeits which give us pleasure in the guise of happiness and joy.

I know of one mother who encouraged her son to ‘come out of the closet’ and be ‘who he is’ so he can be happy. He is now a chronic alcoholic, inactive and alone. And what does she do to support him? She drinks with him to make him feel better about his choice of escapism. She too has turned her back on the Church.

Everything in this life is fleeting. This is only a temporary state of being in our eternal existence. The pursuit of happiness should not be our objective here but to prepare for life everlasting.

This is what Christ’s sacrifice was all about. Deep within His pain, was the potential for our joy for it was for our ‘joy that was set before Him’ that He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2).

Who is like unto Thee,

Jehovah, our God?

Who protects the weak

And the broken hearted;

Who sorrows for the lost

And pays the price of

The crucible cost.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Glory of Jesus Christ by Ralph of Gratis Graphics)