One of the benefits of writing about joy, like Discovering Joy in Philippians: A Creative Bible Study Experience, is that you learn many unique facts that can in turn help you and those in your ministry.
In the New Testament, a common word is JOY! χαρὰ (chara) from chairó is in N. T. 74 times! When God repeats Himself– that is a sign of importance or priority– so obviously His ability to help us walk in joy is on His heart!
To great someone and wish them JOY, was a a common greeting and farewell salutation. (Wouldn’t the world be a better place today if we exchanged our casual, “What’s up , dude?” For “May you be joyous and thrive!”
Some of the meanings for this word, Joy, are:
To rejoice ; Be glad: cheerful
Rejoice exceedingly
To be well/ thrive
To lean in; favorable disposed to happiness
and our ability, the power to actually walk in joy is because this word, joy, is often connected to God’s grace & redemption. Yes, life transformation and a welcome entrance to heaven is plenty cause to rejoice!
But by far, my favorite descriptive meaning of JOY! (χαρὰ ) is that Joy is CALM DELIGHT! This is my favorite definition because it gives me something to DO when depression, stress, discouragement comes rolling my way.
For example, if I get bad news, instead of giving into discouragement, anger, frustration or any of many negative, non-productive emotions, I can push pause, stop, and pray, Lord, right now show me what I can do, think, say that will calm me (or calm the situation). Or Lord, what can I I do, think, say, experience that would be a healthy delight?
To prepare for success, today, make a list of things you can do, say, think that seem to calm you.
Then make a list of healthy, positive delightful distractive, experiences, thoughts, actions you can do when negative circumstances or emotions come your way.
Join me for some CALM DELIGHT, and be a part of my FREE online Discovering Joy in Philippians: A Creative Bible Study Experience.
Click to learn more or register.
Pam Farrel
Pam Farrel is one of the three authors of Discovering Joy in Philippians (coauthored with Jean E Jones and Karla Dornacher) When Pam is not writing, she enjoys calm delights like drinking cold iced tea while resting on the deck of her live aboard boat, kayaking or paddle boarding near her “home” on the ocean or walking the beach hand in hand with her husband, Bill. Together they co-direct Love-Wise.
