Many people seem to get happiness and joy mixed up. Happiness is momentary, depending upon outward circumstances. Joy is lasting, depending on the condition of our heart and inward status. We can be happy when everything is going our way, we’re having a good day, good things are happening. The word happiness is based on happenings – external happenings. And, our happiness can be imediately done away with by a single event or bad thing that happens to us. Joy on the other hand is peace and comfort in our hearts, knowing that no matter what happens – God is in complete control, and He knows what He is doing. That’s why the more we learn to trust Him, the more joy we will have as we realize “He’s got it…everything is in His capable hands!”
That is the difference between happiness, that while good and fun to experience, can change in a moment, and everlasting joy that will not change as long as we keep our eyes and hearts focused on Jesus Christ. Now, here’s where many Christians mess up. They seem to think they are perfectly happy without obeying all of God’s commandments, and they can just do whatever they want because after all – they are going to heaven when they die! However, let something negative happen to them, let them lose their job, experience a death in the family, or even have someone be mean or unkind to them, and there goes their happiness….gone! And here come the anxieties and depressions and bad feelings. However, when we walk close to Jesus Christ, and learn to TRULY trust Him, when something bad or disappointing happens – we can rest in knowing that God is in control. The Bible even tells us, “Be anxious for nothing….”. We can only know that kind of peace and joy as we draw closer and closer to Him. That doesn’t mean that anxieties won’t try to creep up, they will – but we just have to take a deep breath and remind ourselves Who we are trusting our lives to – ALMIGHTY GOD!
1st John tells us, “These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” The commandments and instructions in God’s Word are written so that we may learn to TRUST and OBEY God, and that THROUGH doing so, we increase our Joy. Look at the fruit of the Spirit in Galations 5: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience…” When we obey God and allow His Holy Spirit to control our lives, we experience love, joy, peace, patience……and we find ourselves able to handle whatever life may throw at us. That’s why after David committed sin, we find him praying in Psalm 51: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation…” His sin and disobedience had caused him to lose his JOY.
The same is true in our lives. Joy and peace that is lasting can be a daily experience when we walk close to God and do what is right. However, when we think that it doesn’t matter what we do, we may still have moments of happiness, but we’ll NOT experience true Joy and peace….those are ONLY possible through the Holy Spirit, who only works in the lives of those who’s lives are right with God.
That’s why the Bible tells us “Be HOLY”. Not because God want’s to ruin our lives, but because He knows that is the ONLY way to find JOY!