Hey mamas, sisters, and friends! Can I share something with you today? It’s something that the world wants more and more of, but biblically-speaking, I’d rather have something else. We’re chatting about joy versus happiness. Is there a difference between the two? Why does this matter to the Christian? And how can I live out a joyful life despite things that come my way?
An AI google overview of these two words, is defined as: “Happiness is a temporary, external emotion triggered by pleasant events, while joy is a deeper, lasting internal state of contentment and fulfillment, independent of circumstances. Happiness comes and goes with changing situations, but joy is a conscious choice and a stable, enduring well-being that provides resilience and deeper satisfaction with life overall.”
These definitions give us a great place to start and are the basis for the whole post. The world we live in can bring happiness to our circumstances and how we view our life; however, joy is something deeper that leads us to satisfaction beyond our current state. Have you thought about how these two terms are drastically different, even though they are used synonymously all the time? There is a vast difference between living in the now with happiness and having an eternal mindset founded on joy.
I heard an amazing quote this past weekend at my church’s Women of Wisdom conference. It goes like this: “For the believer, this life is the closest we’ll come to hell. And for the non-believer, this life is the closest they’ll come to heaven.” Let that sink in for a moment…Wow. What a powerful statement that resonates some deep, chilling truth. Friend, I pray that you have eyes to see and ears to hear me right now. Jesus Christ is the only way to eternity–for those who believe in Him AND abide in His word. If this life fills you with pleasure that’s more satisfying than walking with Christ, then maybe you should check the path you’re on. If happiness is the goal, then why does anything else matter? Let me be blunt: happiness is not the goal. Christ is always the goal! Sharing to others about the good news, walking in obedience and repentance, and being sanctified over time to be more Christ-like–that is the goal! After all, we’re talking about eternity here.
So let’s get back to joy in all of this. No matter the circumstances a Christian will face, we should suffer with joy because we know this temporary life is not our home (John 17:16). We can take rest in the trials because we choose to have joy through the pain. We may not know why a certain set of circumstances may be happening, but we keep a quiet heart and trust in the will our Father has for us. And yes, we still cry out in our suffering to the Lord! But we remain at peace knowing His will is greater than my own. If you haven’t read my last post, I shared about another miscarriage we had while still keeping the faith. The Lord is teaching me more and more about joy in the pain.
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” –James 1:2-3
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” –1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.” –Psalm 118:24
We know that as Christians we will suffer persecution, attacks, and pushback. If that’s not happening to you, then maybe you aren’t standing firm in Christ Jesus. Matthew 5:10 says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Praise God, hallelujah! Verses 11 and 12 continue on with, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad.” It all goes back to joy, my dear friend. Even in the midst of being persecuted, Jesus tells us to rejoice!! And to be exceedingly glad. When was the last time you were exceedingly glad? Was it when you brought a new child into this world? Maybe you got a pet recently? A new car? A promotion? Whatever it may be–we are to have that joy when we are reviled for Christ sake. Can you relate to that? Have you been persecuted for His name sake?
Another quote I heard at the Women of Wisdom conference was this: “If you don’t know who you are in Christ, then you’re going to be silent and quiet. But if you do–then you’ll be sharing about Jesus with no fear because you know the battle is the Lord’s.” Amen!
Mamas, sisters, and friends, let us walk each day in joy because not only is that what the scriptures tell us (Psalm 118:24)–but also because we choose to. Let’s make the conscious choice to have joy; something that has eternal ramifications and will get us through the fiery furnace so to speak. Happiness can only take you so far before it leaves you in the dust for the next person.
I leave you with this quote from Jesus, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” –John 20:29
Go in peace AND joy today, sister! May the Lord be with you to direct your steps. Leave a comment for how you live joyfully for the Lord! Check out another post titled Finding Joy in the Monotonous–it’s a good one for the Christian mother and homemaker.
Leave a Reply