5 Minute Read

Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

Psalm 28-32
Romans 5

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

Psalm 32:1-2 (CSB): “How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How joyful is a person whom the LORD does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit!”

Reflecting on God’s Word

For the longest time, I didn’t have much regard for “joy” as Christians defined it. In sermons and lessons, and in books and articles, I was told something like the following…

Happiness is based on what happens to you; joy is based on what has been done for you. Happiness is fleeting; joy lasts forever. Happiness is earthly; joy is heavenly.”

I was told that there was a difference between joy and happiness and that I needed to strive for joy, not happiness.

But I wanted happiness!

I had seen Christians who sang, “I have the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart.” And they looked like they had been weened on sour pickles. If that was joy, I wanted no part of it. I wanted happiness.

And then I read Randy Alcorn’s book, “Happiness.” It was a well of fresh spring water to my parched spirit. In it, he does a deep dive into many of the questions surrounding a biblical perspective of happiness.

I particularly enjoyed chapter 5 that was titled “What Is the Difference Between Joy and Happiness?” The author took the reader to the King James Version of the Bible and a multitude of sermons and writings by Christians who lived over 100 years ago. I believe he built a very compelling case for how happiness and joy were virtually synonymous in Christian sermons and writings until about 100 years ago when Oswald Chambers wrote a piece in which he separated them and gave them two different definitions. Ever since then, so many Christians believe that happiness and joy are two very different things when writers and preachers before him treated the words as if they were essentially the same.

I say all of that just to make the point that the Bible is NOT against pursuing happiness/joy. It just calls us to pursue it in righteous ways. And that’s what we see in the verses I chose for today.

Psalm 32:1-2 (CSB): “How joyful (happy) is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How joyful (happy) is a person whom the LORD does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit!” (the word “happy” in parenthesis was added by me)

These verses call us to reflect on the state of the one who is under conviction because of their disobedience to God. Their conscience feels guilty and they aren’t experiencing the pleasure of God.

And then they bow in prayer and confess their sins. They agree with God at it’s offensiveness and desire never to do it again. As they ask for forgiveness, they receive it by faith as they rest in the promise of God’s Word (e.g. 1 John 1:9, etc.).

But, my friend, you will miss a blessing if you simply receive God’s forgiveness and quickly move on. Psalm 32:1-2 tells us that there is happiness to be had by the one who is forgiven. But that happiness can only come if you stop and reflect on what God did for you when He forgave you. Think about God’s love for you (John 3:16) that caused Him to send His Only Son to pay your sin debt. Reflect on the fact that because of Jesus, you are completely forgiven and cleaned after you sincerely confess your sin (1 John 1:9). Think about God’s love that determines to never, ever bring your sin up again because He casts it “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). (There is so much that can cultivate joy!)

Don’t skip out on the happiness of being forgiven.

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to help you reflect on the blessings of being completely forgiven by a completely just and righteous God on the basis of what Jesus did for you. Then rejoice in those truths.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into getting rid of the feelings of guilt after sinning and confessing, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“How should a Christian deal with feelings of guilt regarding past sins?”

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of White Hall Baptist Church in Richmond, Kentucky (whitehallbaptistchurch.org)