A Matter of Perspective and/or a Confident Hope

Recently I read somewhere that happiness is about perspective. Two people in the exact same situation can have different perspectives. One could feel extremely blessed while the other one might grumble and complain about how unfair God is. Many of us have often heard that joy isn't based on circumstances like happiness is. So is it possible to be unhappy but full of joy?

I often think of Jesus when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane just before he was arrested. The Gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus being in anguish was sweating so much that his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. The Gospel of Mark states that Jesus was deeply distressed and troubled so much that His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. In these circumstances Jesus definitely does not appear to be happy or joyful. In fact I would say with confidence that He definitely wasn't happy. 

Most of the time when the New Testament uses the word joy it is referring to cheerfulness and even delight. This is how it is used in James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." Jesus wasn't cheerful or delighted about his circumstance as he prayed in the garden - at least not according the description we are given. So can we conclude that Jesus didn't have joy?

Now I have thus far asked two questions and haven't answered either. First of all I do believe we can be unhappy but full of joy. Secondly, I do believe Jesus was full of joy even in the Garden of Gethsemane - but  not the kind of joy that we often equate with emotional happiness. The joy we have in Christ, the same joy that is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), isn't always expressed with emotion. The Joy we have in Christ is an expression of our Faith. Even those who do not confess Christ can have good attitudes and a positive perspective during hard times. However, only those in Christ can have the kind of hope which gives us an altogether different perspective - an eternal one that is rooted in Christ's Glory. So while we may go through hardships in this life just like Jesus in the garden, we still have a hope and confidence in Christ. Such a hope does not disappoint in even the worst of circumstances. With this kind of hope and confidence can joy honestly be absent from the Christ followers life - I don't think so.  

My wife and I are going through a rather trying time in our lives right now. There are a set of circumstances which have all come together at once to put an extreme amount of pressure on us. These circumstances are jerking our emotions all over the place and are filling our lives with daily disappointment and frustration. Now we have tried to maintain a positive attitude and have strived to give God glory and thanks during this time but I can definitely tell you we are not giddy with happiness. However, we have taken comfort in the fact that all these circumstances are in God's control and when it comes down to an eternal perspective - what is happening is small potatoes. We still have a Savior who rescued us from sin, we still have a Lord who is in control, and we still have a God who cares and gives us purpose. 

Happiness is a matter of perspective and I think Christians should strive to have a Biblical perspective and exude happiness. However, I don't think God expects us to be emotionally happy all the time (Jesus wasn't in the garden). God does expect us to exude joy at all times. This means that we don't loose sight of our hope and we don't loose confidence in Him. In America, where there is a sense of entitlement about pursuing the American dream, we often forget that God should be our vision, not the pursuit of what we believe will make us happy.