Joy is so strong. It’s a quiet boldness that welcomes the weak and affronts the arrogant. Joy is dangerous to division, to conceit, to bitterness, to animosity. Joy is confident and gracious. Joy sleeps well.

Joy isn’t conditional. That’s happiness. Happiness says, “When I get that job, I’ll be happy.” “When I find the perfect partner, I’ll be happy.” “When it’s the weekend, I’ll be happy.”

Joy is the invitation from a God who is completely in love with us.

Joy is a by-product of obedience and purpose. It can’t be divorced from honestly, vulnerability, risk taking, and rest. It’s abundant and rich.

Joy also puts a target on your back. It stands as a reminder to evil, that days are numbers, and limits on suffering have been set. It must be insufferable to know the war is lost no matter how many battles seems to be going your way. Evil can only posture, and attack. That level of misery can only pull others down.

But don’t you go down. Don’t you believe the lie that joy is naive or uncool. Don’t you believe the lie that joy invites tragedy. Don’t you believe the lie that business or power is a satisfying alternative.

Joy is so strong.

Joy is the invitation from a God who is completely in love with you.