Category Archives: Questions on Faith

Forging a New Path, New (and renewed) Directons, Questions on Faith

Another Question: What Does “Joy” Mean To You?

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What does “joy” mean to you?  If you’re a follower of God, is that a “joyful” experience? Always?  If you’re not, can you still say your life is “joy-filled”?  Always?  Joy. Joyful. Joy-filled. What does that even mean?

From a Christian perspective, I’m taking “joy” as from the fruits of the spirit described by Paul in Galatians:

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, 23 gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].  (AMP)

From a Merriam-Webster perspective, “joy” is described as:

1 a: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. b: the expression or exhibition of such emotion.
2: a state of happiness or felicity; bliss
3: a source or cause of delight

The Amplified version of the Bible also uses the word “gladness”:

1: archaic : having a cheerful or happy disposition by nature
2 a: experiencing pleasure, joy, or delight.  b: made pleased, satisfied, or grateful.
3 a: marked by, expressive of, or caused by happiness and joy.  b: causing happiness and joy; pleasant
4: full of brightness and cheerfulness

Would others use these descriptors of you?  Does that sound like your walk with God? Does that sound, in general, like your walk through life?  Why, or why not?  Take a moment to examine your reaction to those definitions in light of scripture.  Substitute a few other words; delight, pleasure, grateful(ness), cheerfulness.

Go ahead . . . I’ll wait . . . Continue reading Another Question: What Does “Joy” Mean To You? →

Faith & Spiritual Drift, Forging a New Path, New (and renewed) Directons, Questions on Faith, Seasons of doubt

Question: Why Do I Need Something Else?

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Recently, in response to a past blog, a friend asked the following question.  Though I answered him within the context of the blog post, I thought it was a great question and deserved to be expanded on in (a little) more detail than I gave within my original answer.

“[Although I’m not a Christian], I feel like I already have joy, comfort, and peace. So why do I need something else?”

First of all, this is an intriguing and rightful question.  I think it’s an amazing accomplishment when, not only do you realize that these passions are an important part of life, but to feel as though you have some measure of fulfillment as well. They’re truly not easy to come by, nor maintain. My thought on this is not so much that you need a “something else”, but to examine from where those feelings and that fulfillment originate:

  • Is it something wherein you have to put all the dominoes in place to achieve? In other words, is it something you work at?
  • Is it something you work at?
  • Or, is it something you are just able to accept, regardless of situations, problems and worries, (whether or not the dominoes are even out of the box).

Do you have these things despite the day-to-day struggles?

If in fact you do, more power to you. I think that’s a great achievement. And, believe me when I say I’m not trying to express that Christians have the market cornered on this.  Nor that we’re consistently any good at it. But, Continue reading Question: Why Do I Need Something Else? →