Happiness vs. Joy

Hello guys! As you’ve probably figured out by now, I usually post on Thursday’s! This is simply because I have a lot of extra time before my science class starts each Thursday, and I have to sit and wait. I use this time to write blog posts!

I originally had a totally different post planned for me to write, but for some reason it didn’t seem important. At least not as important as the topic I’m talking about today! The topic of Happiness vs. Joy has been on my mind this past week a lot. In this post, I will just be talking about the differences between the two, and what the bible tells us about them.

We’re going to start off with Happiness.

A lot of times, happiness is based on how we feel as a result of our circumstances. It’s very fleeting, it comes and goes depending on how our day is going. I’ll give an example-

Let’s say one day a guy, comes home from work, and he’s had a really long day. He gets home and see’s a brand new car in his driveway. He was confused, because he knew he didn’t buy the car. So he goes inside and asks his wife if she knows why the car is in their driveway. She then excitedly tells him that they won a giveaway that they had entered about a month ago. The man was shocked, and he went back outside to look at the car.

Now some people would say that he was overjoyed, but using that wording would not help me make my point lol.

So let’s say he was overcome with happiness! He was so happy.. I mean he just got a brand new car for free!!!! Over the next week, him and his wife were able to drive the new car, and they loved it! However, the following week the giveaway people called them, and the wife picked up the phone. They told her that they had made a mistake, and the real winners were awaiting getting their brand new car. She said she understood, and the giveaway people sent someone to pick up the car. When the husband got home, he noticed the new car was no longer in his driveway (he had taken their other car to work that day). He went inside and asked his wife where it had gone, and she told him that they did not win the giveaway, that it had been a mistake. The man was no longer overcome with happiness. I mean, his brand new car is no longer his car! His happiness was dependent on his circumstances.

I have no clue if that actually was a good example, but hopefully it helped 😉

The world tells us that there are plenty of paths to happiness: Succeeding in your career, getting promoted, earning a scholarship, getting a new car, buying your dream house, making a lot of money, reaching goals. The world tells us that by perusing and achieving our own goals, we will seemingly create our own happiness. But when things get rough, and we didn’t achieve that goal by this time, we didn’t make enough money to buy this etc. are we still happy? It’s easy to get frustrated + disappointed. And sometimes we don’t just get frustrated with our circumstances and with ourselves, but also with God. Like He’s lettings us down, not coming through for us when we need Him.

Happiness is (in a sense) a search for “more” in life. More money, more friends, more success, more knowledge, more power etc.

Joy is the discovery of an abundant life found in less. Less focus on ourselves, less focus on how much money we have, how many friends we have, how much power we have. It’s focusing less on ourselves and more on Christ. When we focus on Christ, He becomes the center of our lives. If He is the one who comes first, everything else can fall into place. And when we keep our eyes on the Lord, no matter what our circumstances are, we can still be filled with joy because we know that God has it all under control. And actually, when we know Christ, we also know that none of this stuff here on earth is important. Because this isn’t our real home. We were created to live in harmony with God, and one day we will be with Him in heaven.

We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention & expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!

Hebrews 12:2 TPT

This verse is simply reminding us to keep our eyes on Christ, for He is the finisher of our faith, and suffered the cross just so that we could be with God one day in heaven.

As the Father loved Me, I also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 
John 15:9-11  NKJV

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalms 16:11  NKJV

This verse is saying the the presence of God is the fullness of Joy. As we rest in His goodness, grace, and mercy, we are filled with Joy.

Joy is not just something that comes and goes as our circumstances change. It is given to us when we receive Christ, and it is always present. We have the ability to stay joyful despite our circumstances. That means if we lose all we have, we still know that The Kingdom of God is what matters most, and that He will take care on us. We can remain Joyful because we rest in Christ.

Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

John 16:24 NKJV

Photo by Simon Migaj on Pexels.com

I hope you guys enjoyed this post, and the Lord showed you something as you read it! Have a great rest of your week! ❤ ❤