Happiness vs Joy

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. —James 1: 3-4 NLT

I’m going through a devotion on happiness at the moment, which is really good. However, it started me thinking about the word Happiness: Does the word “Happy” occur in the Bible? What does the Bible say about Happiness?

Checking the earlier versions of the Bible—NKJV and KJV—the word happy or happiness appears in very few places. However, in newer versions—NLT, Amplified, EASY—the words such as Joy and Blessed are interchangeably used with the word ‘happy’ or ‘happiness’. Personally, I think that happiness is a poor substitution for Joy and Blessed, as these words have deeper, stronger and fuller meanings.

According to the dictionary (Collins): “Someone who is happy has feelings of pleasure, usually because something nice has happened or because they feel satisfied with their life.” The same dictionary defines Joy as—”a feeling of great happiness.”

From the world’s perspective, Joy is a feeling because it is dependent on circumstances. They equate that “feeling of great happiness” to what they can see, feel, touch, or possess. Feelings such as the amount of money they have in the bank, or how big their cars and houses are. Or even the state in which their businesses or careers are progressing. But what happens to that happiness once these things are affected adversely?

For believers, Joy is not a feeling. It does not depend or rely on circumstances because it is a fruit of the spirit. “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace…” Galatians 5:22(NLT) It is the Spirit that therefore enables us to put James’ admonition into practice: “…when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.”

Are times of trouble or sadness really a time to be joyful? The answer is no. It is the Spirit of God in us that helps us to see beyond our circumstances, to remember God’s promises and see Him at work.

With the Spirit’s help, it enables us to rejoice because we have a God who never fails. And no matter what the situation or circumstances may be, God’s got our back. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 (NLT)

We rejoice because we know that the things of this world are temporal, but God’s promises are eternal, and they are yes and amen. The Spirit of God in us causes us to rejoice as children of God and helps us say like Job:

“I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” Job 1:21 (NLT)

Stay blessed,

LaraLex