Since the very beginning, the pursuit of happiness has been a part of our American cultural DNA. At the heart of the Declaration of Independence are the famous words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

There’s a lot to be said that’s positive about the pursuit of happiness. Pursuing happiness causes us to work hard and strive for greater and greater things. Such pursuits have led to remarkable human achievements and heroic efforts. The pursuit of happiness can be and has often been a good and healthy thing.

On the other hand, the pursuit of happiness can become distorted when the race towards the good life turns into a rat race – where the finish line is always just out of reach.

I often think of this when I see commercials on television. Maybe you’ve had this experience where you’re watching a commercial filled with celebrities and smiling people, and you begin to wonder: “What is this commercial even for? What are they trying to sell me?” Sometimes it’s something as mundane as paper towels or yogurt.

So many commercials seem to whisper to us: “Pssst… if you just buy me, then you will finally be happy.” Perhaps this is the underside of the pursuit of happiness. Of course, we know that no car or shoe or deodorant is going to make us truly happy. But sometimes we live as if they just might. These advertisements promise us more than they can deliver.

When the finish line of happiness is always on the horizon, we might miss the joy that’s right in front of us in the present moment.

The question I want to raise is: What if the whole time we’ve been pursuing happiness, joy has been pursuing us? What if the God of joy is chasing after us all the days of our lives?

This summer Orfordville Lutheran is having a season of joy at our congregation. Each week, we’ve read passages about joy from God’s Word and reflected on how we find joy in God. We’ve been sharing pictures of joy and collecting favorite memories and activities of joy on pieces of paper that we keep in Joy Jars. It has been a lot of fun.

In the Bible, there are several examples of people being surprised by joy. For example, when Mary is told she will give birth to the baby Jesus, she goes to see her relative Elizabeth. When Elizabeth (who is also pregnant) hears Mary’s greeting, the child in her womb leaps for joy (Luke 1:44). Likewise, Mary rejoices (Luke 1:47).

Often in Scripture the experience of joy is associated with God taking notice of us or God’s face turning towards us. When God looks away we whither, but God’s shining face fills us with surprising joy. For example, in Psalm 30, when God’s face is turned away the psalmist is dismayed (verse 7) but God’s presence turns his “mourning into dancing” (verse 11).

Mary was surprised by joy when God’s face turned towards her and took notice of her. She must have been surprised that God chose her. She said, “The Lord looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant” (Luke 1:48).

One Christian who experienced this kind of joy was C.S. Lewis – the author of the Chronicles of Narnia. Early in his life, Lewis fell away from Christian faith, especially after his service in World War I. But at the age of 32, Lewis had a conversion experience and returned to faith. He described himself as “the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England.” But God pursued him nonetheless. This experience was so joyful for Lewis that he called his autobiography Surprised by Joy. He didn’t pursue this happiness. Joy pursued him!

Like Mary and C.S. Lewis, may you feel the face of the Lord shining upon you. May you, too, be surprised by joy!

Note: This post originally appeared in the Brodhead Free Press and the Independent Register as part of their weekly “Pastor’s Corner” column.