Joy vs Happiness...

My studies of late have centered around understanding the difference between happiness and joy. They are often used to define each other, and I think most would use them synonymously, yet they are different. I think happiness is more of that emotional state that we experience in the moment. It defines a specific moment or moments in time, in our lives. Joy, on the other hand, is a state of being. It transcends the moment and can permeate all facets of our lives, even when living in those negative moments. Where happiness may come and go easily, joy is much more permanant in its nature. It is delight, gratification, pleasure. It is the anticipation, as well as the experience. It is so much more than happiness; for happiness is just one small facet of joy.

As Christ-followers we aren't promised happy lives, rather we are promised joyful ones. We aren't promised one facet, one side of the diamond, we are offered the entire gem, the whole treasure. There are about 30 references to "happy" or "happiness" in the Bible, and they almost exsclusively refer to man, and a state of being in the moment. There are over 240 references to "joy" or "joyful" and many of them refer directly to God, and his state of being. We are promised his joy, which will make our joy complete (John 15:11). We are told that our strength comes from the joy of the Lord (Neh. 8:10). We are instructed to ask for things in Jesus' name and we will receive, and our joy will be complete (John 16:24). These are but a few of the references to God's joy and ours, and how they are tied together. Many references to God's joy are tied to his love, and his love for us...

So why are so many people who claim to be "Christians" walking around joyless? Why do you go into so many churches and look around and everyone looks like they were weaned on a pickle? If we are commanded to be joyful and aren't, then aren't we disobeying God's command? I think we need to learn not only what joy is but also how to achieve it... Can you imagine the reaction of our world if it suddenly thought Christianity was fun?