How To Find Joy

“Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.” Psalm 33:1

Is the cup half empty? Or half full? That is the question we often find ourselves wrestling with. We do not ask it that way, of course. We just wonder whether to be happy with our blessings or frustrated about our problems. Given the two choices, the biblical answer is clear! Praise, more than anxiety, is one of the hallmarks of those whose lives reflect God’s presence.

The reality is that life is usually never so flawless that we have no frustrations. But it is also rarely so bereft that we cannot identify some blessings. So we find ourselves having to choose our attitude and perspective. The difficulty is that our feelings usually choose us rather than the other way around. We “feel” sad. Or happy. Or anxious. Or excited. While we know that our feelings should not control us, it is certainly hard to ignore them.

How do we fill our lives with more praise than pessimism? There is probably no one answer. Perhaps the answer is not the same for everyone. What is important to understand is that the source of praise is different from the sources of happiness. Happiness varies depending on our circumstances. Joy has its foundation in God. To fill our lives with praise means to center more of our hearts on God.

Like happiness, I suspect that praise is a byproduct. It emerges from hearts that are turned toward God. That is what being righteous is: not being perfect but having a heart turned toward God. When we rightly align our lives with God, praise emerges on its own.