The Happiest People in the World - February 12

Read 1 Peter 1:8-9

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Reflect

This life is not easy, even for Christians. So how can Christians be full of joy despite their circumstances?

In Sunday school, I remember singing “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.” Do you know that one? The chorus goes “And I’m so happy, so very happy. I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart, down in my heart...” It all seemed so simple. I had the love of Jesus in my heart so I was happy. Yay!

But as I grew up, I realized that happiness didn’t seem as simple anymore. I realized that Christians still get cancer, get in serious car accidents, struggle with money, lose their jobs, get divorced, and people that they love still die. I began to realize that Christianity is not magical. It’s miraculous to be sure. But it’s not magical. I can’t wish upon Jesus like some people wish upon a star and everything just magically works out for me.

And yet, I still think Christians should be the happiest people in the world. Why? Because our joy isn’t rooted in this world and it’s not from this world.

In today’s verses, the apostle Peter said that believers in Christ rejoice with a joy that we can’t even fully express. Not because we suddenly get every worldly thing we’ve ever wanted or because our worldly circumstances immediately improve. We don’t rejoice because the outcome of our faith is health and wealth. We rejoice because we have obtained the salvation of our souls!

You see, Jesus never promised to be our genie. He never promised to make all of our problems disappear and all of our dreams to come true. But He did promise to lay down His life for us so that those who follow Him can have life to the full. In John 10:10-11, Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” 

Not only is the life that Jesus promised abundant, it is eternal. He said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28). We are eternally protected by God and we will never perish! In Christ, no one can take our life from us. Ever.

Jesus also promised that He’d come back for us so that we can be with Him forever. He told His disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:1-3).

He also promised to send the Holy Spirit: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17). The result of having the Holy Spirit living inside us? Joy. In fact, joy is listed as the second “Fruit of the Spirit” right after love (Galatians 5:22). 

You see, in Christ, we have a joy that the world can’t explain and doesn’t understand. It’s the reason Jesus’ apostles and Christ followers throughout history have been able to rejoice even as they faced persecution and martyrdom. They have been able to “count it all joy’ despite trials, hardships, and suffering (James 1:2). Christians can be the happiest people in the world because our joy is not from this world. Turns out the song is right after all. I do have the joy down in my heart to stay because I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart. And I hope you do, too.

Respond

Lord, because You loved me enough to lay Your life down for me, I have a deep joy that this world can’t explain. I have the salvation of my soul, a hope for eternity that will not disappoint, and an abundant life in You that no one can take away. I thank and praise You for the gift of this deep, meaningful, and other-worldly joy that helps me to hang on when this world gets too hard. Amen.

Reveal

Do you express your joy in Christ to those around you? Tell someone about the source of your joy today—Jesus. Let them know how they can have the same eternal joy.