Let’s face it we all want to be happy. According to the dictionary happiness is a feeling of pleasure or contentment. But it is very circumstantial. And depending on the circumstances you can be happy one moment and sad the next. And as we all know feelings of happiness can fluctuate quite a bit even over a short period of time.
I know in my own life that the thing I strive to obtain more than happiness, which is often not in my control, is joy. I define joy as that special sense of well contentment that I am doing things that are right and pleasing to the Lord. I like how Christianity.com defines joy: “Simply put, Biblical joy is choosing to respond to external circumstances with inner contentment and satisfaction, because we know that God will use these experiences to accomplish His work in and through our lives.”1 Thus, we see that true joy is first, a choice we make, and second, we can have it regardless of the circumstances.
But how do we choose joy when we are going through severe trials and things seem out of control? I believe that when we strive to be holy in everything we do that joy will be the result. I love how Oswald Chambers put it: “Holiness, not happiness, is the chief end of man.”2 Simply put, holiness will bring joy and joy is better than happiness. And since we are commanded to be holy as (1 Peter 1:16) says: “for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy,’” God will help us in this endeavor as we strive to be more like Jesus. And the key to holiness is always submitting our will to the will of the Lord and doing everything for the Glory of God. When we do this God will shower us with the joy of the Lord and my friends there is nothing more satisfying than this amazing inner state of contentment!
Only positive circumstances can bring happiness, but all circumstances can bring joy if we are obedient to the commands of the Lord. Happiness and positive feelings come and go, but that joyous state of inner contentment can constantly abide within us as we strive to be holy. And since joy and holiness are so intertwined I for one would rather be holy than happy because I know that being holy will put a smile on the Lord’s face and great joy in my heart – and what can be more wonderful than that!
1 What is Joy in the Bible? Christian Meaning, Definition, and Importance (christianity.com)
2 25 Oswald Chambers Quotes on Spiritual Leadership – BradBridges.Net