Joy vs Happiness 

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 am currently enjoying Martin Smith’s song ‘Joy (What The World Calls Foolish)’. In the chorus, he said:   

I’ve got joy in the morning, Joy in the evening  

You keep me dancing in every season  

Whatever comes tomorrow, I’ve got joy  

I’ve got joy in the sunshine, Joy in the rain  

You keep me dancing again and again  

Whatever comes tomorrow, I’ve got joy. 

The song got me thinking again about a devotion on happiness I did a while ago and what the Bible say about it? 

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 “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 number of cars and houses they have. Or even the state in which their businesses or careers are progressing.  

But what happens to that state of happiness once these things are disturbed, adversely affected or are no longer accessible? 

For believers, Joy is a fruit of the Spirit not a feeling. It does not depend or rely on circumstances. “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) 

So, remember whatever comes tomorrow, you’ve got joy because the Joy of the LORD is your strength.  

Stay blessed,

Laralex