From Consumerism to Joy

Joy, for Lewis, wasn’t a feeling you could buy or schedule. It was a longing that pointed toward something (or Someone) beyond this world.

Joy is a complex thing that tends to elude us when we are searching for it. No matter how hard we try, it seems like we only end up with lesser varieties.

In my experience, I’ve noticed that true joy is tied to relationships. This helps make sense of the complex and paradoxical nature of joy as described by Lewis. Joy bubbles up in moments of deep connection, reminding us of how good life is and how good God is. The surprise of these moments is that joy is often found in the deepest, most painful circumstances. We find joy side by side with celebrations of life, painful conversations with loved ones, or even moments of rejection because of your commitment to God’s ways. These moments are sad and painful, yet they also deeply resonate with our hearts, confirming what we know to be true.