Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11
Great Joy is an understatement. Our modern definition of joy is often interchanged with happiness but researchers are finding they are two different things. Dr. Rebekkah Frunzac and ICU nurse Karizma Maxson of the Mayo Clinic found that happiness is an emotional reaction to what is happening around us. Whereas joy isn’t reactionary at all but driven by internal motivations like finding purpose in life through relationships, whether it is on a personal level, at a job, hobby or extracurricular activities. Bottom line is it ‘s beyond emotion, it’s a state of being.
Scripture confirms this in Galatians 5:22 that tells us joy is actually a fruit of the Spirit that comes from Jesus Himself. In John 15:11 He tells us “I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” True joy as God created it comes through a relationship with Jesus. That’s why we can have joy even in the worst of times because it is found deep in our spirits not in our circumstances. Things may change but Jesus doesn’t and He Himself is our joy. he truly is our great joy.
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