The Transformative Joy of Divine Communion
Communing with God can bestow upon a person a unique sense of happiness by deeply transforming one’s inner world, purifying the soul, and filling it with the sensation of divine closeness. This sense of happiness arises when a person experiences an inner illumination with the truth that fills their soul, and when their life’s pursuit finds a purpose, ceasing to be fragmented and incomplete. For example, one of the authors describes this experience as follows: "I remember that profound feeling of inner happiness that penetrated the soul when it was illuminated with the consciousness of Christ’s truth. It was the joy of redemption in the literal sense, because I experienced the restoration of the broken wholeness of my human being. Until that moment, everything inside me was discord and internal contradiction. The soul demanded the fullness of being, as if it were a goal, towards which all life’s striving was directed; while the mind simultaneously asserted that this overall aim was nothing but an illusion. No God, therefore no wholeness; and if there is no wholeness, then there is no meaning, no purpose. In this denial of meaning lay the inner contradiction of the mind with itself, for the mind, by its very nature, is the quest for that meaning of existence which is rejected by the godless intellect." (source: link txt, page: 68)Moreover, a special feeling of happiness arises from the sense of God’s closeness – the assurance that He is always with us. Another author emphasizes that the joy of the heart is connected with trust and a sense of peace, emerging from the awareness that God never abandons a person: "The joy of the heart is the feeling of God’s nearness and a heartfelt, complete surrender to Him. It is that majestic sense of calm and rest, the assurance that God is where my 'self' is, by His side. The joy of the heart is nothing other than a person realizing that God never leaves him for a moment. The joy of the heart is the deepest experience of a person who lives every moment of his life with God." (source: link txt)Furthermore, inner happiness is sustained by the process of moral and spiritual growth. The knowledge of God leads to a life filled with virtues, and a life lived in accordance with the highest spiritual principles allows one to feel an unshakable joy in the soul that does not depend on external circumstances. This is because communion with God unveils the soul’s ability to sense the presence of divine light even in the most arduous of times, transforming the inner world and bestowing confidence and security.Thus, the special sense of happiness experienced during communion with God is determined by several factors: 1. A deep inner illumination and the restoration of the soul’s wholeness through the realization of divine truth. 2. The feeling of mutual presence and closeness with God, which provides a sense of peace and assurance even in the most challenging moments. 3. Spiritual growth and moral development that allow a person to perceive life in a truly meaningful light, where joy stems from inner transformation.Supporting citation(s): "I remember that profound feeling of inner happiness that penetrated the soul when it was illuminated with the consciousness of Christ’s truth. ..." (source: link txt, page: 68) "The joy of the heart is the feeling of God’s nearness ... The joy of the heart is nothing other than a person realizing that God never leaves him for a moment." (source: link txt)