JOY

Last week I taught a conversational English class to a group of eleven students. The topic was life fulfillment. What is fulfillment? Where do people find fulfillment? Can ultimate fulfillment in life be reached? As I prepared the lesson, I was forced to ask myself these same questions. Being a Christian, I could easily and robotically respond with, "Christ is my ultimate fulfillment". But stating a quick response is much easier than having to explain and reinforce my beliefs in front of a class of atheistic students. Could I stand in front of them with my beliefs and have no secret doubts of it's truth in my life? 

I now ask you these same questions that have been running through my head the last few days. What is fulfillment? Where do you find fulfillment? I hope it forces you to soul search just as it has me. 

During the class discussion one very interesting conversation was started about the meaning of joy. One student said that ultimate fulfillment is finding complete joy in something. Another student argued that joy was the same as happiness, an emotion that comes and goes with the tide. This student then proposed that ultimate fulfillment could never be reached. As long as you are alive, you will always be in want for something. Happiness is only temporary. I have to agree that happiness is a temporary emotion. It is dependent on surrounding elements that make up life at the time. But JOY, joy is something different. 

I believe joy is a state of being, not an emotion. I believe you make a decision to be joyful the instant you accept Christ into your life. With Christ as your Savior, God as your Father and the Holy Spirit as your guide, in what other way can you express your new, perfect and holy state? Complete joy is what bursts forth from a renewed spirit. That is what I call finding ultimate fulfillment. Does this mean that I never have a bad day; that I walk around with a smile on my face all the time? Absolutely not. But what it does mean, is that through the rough days, through the trials, and through the disappointments, I can find joy. There isn't a bad day or a heavy emotion that can change my eternal future in heaven with my God. 

These last few days have been emotionally draining. God has had to show me that following His will is not a promise of an easy road. Each step is a step of faith; a test of my dependence on Him. Even though happiness has not defined my last few days, joy has. I can say with complete sincerity that God is my true fulfillment and my joy. The challenge now is can others see this joy no matter what emotion has taken over? My desire and my prayer is that they can. 

I'll write again soon,

Rachel