Finding Joy (Friday Devotional)

 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

- Philippians 4:4

Over the course of his career, writer and professor Joseph Campbell gave the same advice to anyone who would listen, advice that became something of a New Age mantra: “follow your bliss.” What Campbell was urging people to do was consider what they were most passionate about, the things which brought them the most personal fulfillment and happiness, and then devote themselves to pursuing them. By seeking those things—whether fame or success, money or popularity—Campbell said that happiness would be found, not just in the achievement of those things, but in the effort to attain them.

Campbell’s advice has resonated with people for generations now, from college students to artists to CEOs. In our world, happiness—bliss—is something you chase after, something you work towards, something you earn. It is the reward for your efforts, the fruit of your labors.

But the truth is that, like all fruit, it goes bad after a while. The bliss you seek is fleeting. Happiness, as Mad Men’s Don Draper once said, is just a moment before you need more happiness.

While following your bliss can lead to temporary pleasure, eternal joy is not found in something you can earn, achieve, build, or buy. In fact, it’s not found in something at all. Because though happiness can be found in things, joy is found in the person of Jesus Christ.

It’s in Jesus that we are shown the glory of God, full of grace and truth. It’s by Jesus that we are led to the Father and given the gift of the Spirit. It’s through Jesus that we are forgiven, saved, redeemed, and restored. Jesus is the source of our hope, the key to our peace, and the reason for our joy.

When you search for joy in the things of this world, you may find fleeting pleasure, but you’ll miss out on something better. So don’t settle for following your bliss—follow your Lord instead, where joy is found.