Revolution of Love.com
The Key to Finding True Joy
by Brian
If you are truly searching for joy in your life, the kind that does not fade away but lasts, then all I have to say is "draw close to Jesus."
There are many modern day gurus, too many to name, that are pushing all sorts of formulas, methods and medicines to help people find or experience joy in their lives. From talk-shows to radio to Barnes and Noble - these gurus have invaded every sphere of the multi media world. And from what I can tell, "mucho dinero" is being made.
What if I told you that there is someone, through whom you could experience true and lasting joy. Someone who would not charge you a dime nor have you purchase the latest books or tape series on happiness. That sounds too good to be true but it is true and it is good. The person I am speaking of is none other than the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity - Jesus Christ. Jesus is the ultimate source of joy.
I used to imagine that if I went around the local area and surveyed people as to what were the top three things they really wanted in life, joy or happiness would be one of them. I believe in today's world, especially our society, there is an epidemic of unhappiness that has invaded communities, homes, families and marriages.
The only remedy I know that will combat this epidemic is Jesus. This is why the saints were the most joyful people on earth. Their closeness to Our Lord inflamed them with a heavenly joy that was authentic, real and contagious. The saints exemplify what happens to someone who makes Jesus the center of their life.
There was a time in my life when I was not a happy camper. I used to think that my lack of joy/happiness was due to some sort of deficiency in God. Maybe He didn't love me enough or really care about me. I used to ask Jesus why He wouldn't put the same sort of joy in my heart that he blessed the saints with. I truly believed that Jesus was the issue and not me.
Boy, was I wrong. Through some tough love, distributed by our Heavenly Mother, I was made to see that the problem wasn't Jesus, but me. Our Lady helped me understand that to receive the "joy" of the saints I would have to draw close to Jesus by removing those obstacles, mainly sin, from my heart and soul. Sin, I believe, is the main impediment that prevents Jesus from giving us His joy, a joy that is deep and lasting.
When I started going to confession on a regular basis and did my best to avoid temptation and sin I found myself becoming more and more joyful. Although it was not easy to fight against those habits and vices that I had acquired over the years, in fact at times it was very painful, I discovered that the more I resisted sin and tried to stay close to Jesus the happier I became.
As God is pushed out of the public/political arena, there will be greater and greater unhappiness in our society. People will look for joy and happiness, but as the song goes "in all the wrong places." They will find all kinds of remedies to make themselves momentarily happy, but they will never find the joy they are so diligently seeking.
I would like to conclude by saying that I am fully aware that there are people who need medications and counseling to find balance and joy in their lives. I am in no way saying that such people should neglect the field of medicine. What I am trying to say is that many people in our society who are seeking true joy and personal happiness will never find it apart from Jesus Christ.
God bless.