Did you know that there is a difference between joy and happiness? A lot of people use the words interchangeably but they actually mean two different things. Psycholgies says, “Joy is more consistent and is cultivated internally. It comes when you make peace with who you are, why you are and how you are, whereas happiness tends to be externally triggered and is based on other people, things, places, thoughts and events.” In other words, happiness comes when something good takes place in our life and joy is experienced when we choose it. We can be in the most miserable situations and not be happy but still have joy. I started this year in Mokhotlong, Lesotho, which is located in the valley of 4 mountains. The house we stayed at was placed on the side of one of those mountains, looking out over the town. The whole time I was there my feet were covered in dirt, I had bug bites all over my body, and flies were constantly swarming in my ears. Throughout all that, I was filled with the most joy I have felt in a long time. I chose that joy. I chose to be like the people of Mokhotlong. I chose to be like the people who radiate Jesus even when they have nothing. Of course there is suffering, hardships, and pain, but these people know how to take that suffering and turn it into something for the Lord. They know how to choose the joy that comes out of it. They know that the suffering they experience on Earth will lead to everlasting joy that comes in Heaven. Earth is only a pit stop for them because they have chosen to be something more than themselves. They don’t serve the material things around them. They choose to serve their families and friends. They take in the poor, lead the lost, feed the hungry, all because their ultimate purpose is to serve Jesus.
After a week in Lesotho, we had to leave and go to a small town in South Africa because of some visa problems. We were sad to leave Mokhotlong and the joy that surrounded us, but we new that God had a reason for taking us to Heidelberg, South Africa. The past two weeks, we have had several opportunities to listen to different speakers. A common topic that kept coming up is free will. One speaker said, “If God ruled the world, the world would be perfect, but it’s not because it is ruled by man.” God gave us power over the world when he gave us free will. God gave us the power to make our own choices. You can choose joy. This doesn’t mean accepting the suffering or hurt and choosing joy when you can change your situation. Choose joy by making your situation better. Life is meant to be enjoyed and you have the power to do that. When we choose joy, everything negative starts to fade away. All the negative feelings, offensiveness, anger, all starts to fade away and we start to see the good side of humanity. So take charge of your life, learn from your mistakes, and live the life God has given you.
Isaiah 42:11 says, “Let the people of Selah sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops.”
Thabo means Joy in Sesotho
