HAPPINESS AND JOY ARE NOT THE SAME

Happiness is a temporary feeling. Joy can be permanent.

Eternal Perspectives              by Sally Bair

A friend recently lost a loved one and is also going through a difficult family situation. We often witness, hear about or experience losses and difficulties. After all, we live in an imperfect world. To offset our unhappiness, we search for ways to make us smile and laugh and feel better emotionally. We read jokes and “happy” books and attend humorous or spirit-lifting events—anything to offer us a temporary reprieve from our sorrows.

However, the solutions we choose are not long-lasting. Our problems don’t always disappear and we face new ones every day. We grumble and show our unhappiness even for the little things that go wrong, including the weather, don’t we?

On the other hand, we’re happy when we get a good night’s sleep. When our kids come home with good report cards. During lunch with a friend. At weddings. When the rain holds off until we get home. After a bumper crop of veggies … or apples … or alfalfa.

All these occasions for happiness come from outside circumstances. They depend on what “happens”—perhaps that’s why it’s called “happiness.” And when we put our trust in happiness, we become controlled by our circumstances, which can change from hour to hour.

Happiness meets our surface needs. We can compare happiness to a thermometer which registers conditions. Joy, on the other hand, is more like a thermostat, regulated by conditions. It comes from within and meets our deepest needs. During times of suffering and angst, happiness can act like a bandaid that will eventually disintegrate. Joy, however, often intensifies during such times. I can testify to that truth firsthand. When my husband was killed, it was not an occasion for happiness by any means. But my grief was diminished by my faith in God.

The apostle Paul went through many extreme hardships, yet was joyous throughout—so much so that he advised us also to “rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4) Please note that this verse doesn’t tell us to rejoice in circumstances, which change continually, but in God who never changes.

Lord, thank You for joy. Though we may have tragedy, sorrow, heartache or pain, we take joy in Your salvation, hope and strength. May our joy in You be a magnet to others so they, too, can know You. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.