Joy vs. Happiness

     I don't know about you, but some of these COVID-19 days seem to drag on forever! But, that being said, I'm looking at a quote on my office wall from Abraham Lincoln that notes, "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Happiness is a choice, but I often make that choice based upon my thoughts, feelings, and circumstances. So then happiness gets clouded by circumstances (COVID-19 for example) and it rains on my parade with no umbrella in sight. 

    So how do we, as emotional beings, find the rainbows in our gray days? As Christians, indwelled by the Holy Spirit of God, we aren't necessarily called to be happy, rather we are called to have joy. What's the difference between being happy or being joyful? Dictionary.com gives the following definition for being happy: characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy. The definition for joy on this same website is: the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation. By these definitions, you could say that being happy includes joy, but being joyful involves "great happiness." Joy involves "keen pleasure" where as being happy is just pleasure. 

    The Bible uses the term, joy, in relationship to celebrations of feasting, singing, and praising God. Psalm 19:8 tells us where we can find joy, "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes." Proverbs 12:20 gives us another way to have joy, "Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy." James, the brother of Jesus, reminds us that joy is not always found in happy situations, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance" (James 1:2-3 NIV). 

    According to christianbiblereference.org, the Bible refers to "joy" over 150 times. David in Psalms, speaks of "shouting for joy," over and over in his writing. Jesus tells us in John 15:9-11, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." Jesus wanted his disciples to be full of joy. And to have His joy, they were to follow His commands. 

    John 15:9-11 gives the idea that obedience to God and love for God will equal joy. That seems like a simple equation to follow, but even if we faithfully follow Christ Jesus and walk in the path God has designed specially for our lives, it doesn't mean we won't have troubles. Our "happiness" can't be in having only good times, good days, as well as good health and relationships. Jesus made it clear that our time on Earth will include trouble, but our hope and joy should be in Him, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33 NIV). 

John 3:29-30 That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.