Article January 29, 2018 Issue

Your right to be joyful

Jyoti Raghu

A while ago there was a debate among some of my friends on Facebook about expressing joy. Some said joy is a gift from God, so it’s right to express it regardless of the state of the world and the hardships some people are facing. Others argued it would be arrogant to smile and sing despite reports of human suffering; moreover, it would be callous to tell those who are suffering to just lighten up and be happy.

I found myself thinking about that debate one day when I was overwhelmed with anxiety about issues in my own life. When I feel this way, I often turn to God in prayer, which calms me down, lifts my thought spiritually, and helps me find healing solutions to problems. When I’m really obeying the First Commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3), I can resist the inclination to be overcome with worry.

As I considered the spiritual basis for trusting God and letting go of fear, I also found my answer to the dilemma above, about whether it’s right to be joyful under all circumstances. And the answer is yes!

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