My Story with Joy

For many years I have put on a happy face. As a quick background, I have played in a pop/rock band for 10 years, and have played in front of probably a hundred different crowds. Growing up in the 90’s I was frustrated by dark, angst-filled music and super aggressive metal music. So I did my best to write the catchiest, happiest, most up beat songs I could possibly write. I felt this was the only way to connect with people in a way that could result in community and friendship. And it worked. I developed lots of friendships based on this positive upbeat music. But in the midst of the love fest there was something missing – my own joy.

When things went my way of course I was happy, and I was immensely confident about my talents and my future. But there was a big problem with this confidence. It was all vanity as it is said in Ecclesiastes. It was all smoke. There was nothing real behind it. After reading CS Lewis’ ‘Mere Christianity’ about a year ago I was convicted about my selfish pride in a way I never imagined. And though it has taken a while, I am gaining confidence now – not in my own abilities, but in God’s grace and the joy that flows from it. Paul said, “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. [Philippians 1:6]”.

And so I am rethinking joy. I want to know what the Bible says about it. I want to know what my community thinks about it. I’ve started a blog called A Joyful Noise, and I hope that some of you folks will contribute to the dialogue about joy and how to share joy with a world in despair. My focus is to do this through music and eventually film. We can all find our own ways of dropping what I call ‘Joybombs’ on the world. May God inspire us to communicate joy and God's grace in creative ways with our community. Blessings.