While many people assume that joy and happiness are similar there is a vast difference between the two. For the Christian happiness depends on circumstances while joy is a choice and depends on being obedient to Christ. I like how Meg Bucher puts it: “The difference between joy and happiness is substantial. We often assume that the fleeting feeling of happiness, giddy laughter and contentment in the comforts of life is akin to the joy we experience in Jesus. But joy supernaturally sustains our souls in seasons of heartache, injustice, and sorrow. Enduring the valleys of life is nearly impossible without the life-giving fuel of joy in Christ.”1
Happiness is a reaction to something great while joy is the product of someone great – Jesus. As a result, while happiness depends on external factors, the true source of all joy is Jesus. And when we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior we can constantly walk in the flow of joy and experience this wonderful gift. For joy is indeed a gift and a fruit of the Spirit for we read in (Galatians 5:22-23): “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
And the reason I know that joy is a choice is because of what we read in (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18): “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I love these verses for two reasons. First, they say that rejoicing always is the will of God and we know that obeying God’s will is a choice; we can either obey or disobey. And second, rejoicing always means we can have joy in the good times and the difficult times or else God wouldn’t say to rejoice always. I love what the website compassion.com shares about joy: “Although joy does feels better with a happy smile, joy can share space with other emotions — sadness, fear, anger … even unhappiness. Happiness can’t.”2
It is important to note that happiness is more a state of mind while joy is both emotionally and intellectually rooted in our faith in Christ. Joy is that settled confidence that Christ is in total control of the details of our lives and that He is going to work all things for good as we trust Him and let Him lead.
And to add emphasis to the command to “rejoice always” (since this is God’s will for us) we read one of the most encouraging verses in all of Scripture – (James 1:2) which reads: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” Here we see that joy and trials can both co-exist in the economy of God. And that’s because we know as Christians that God always has our back. Mel Walker shares this thought beautifully when he says: “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.”3
When we know in our hearts that God is working all things for good on our behalf and that He loves us no matter what, joy can well-up in our souls because it is God-centered unlike happiness which is often based on external people and events. Happiness, again is based on external events, while joy is based on knowing who we are in Christ.
It is so important to remember that a person pursues happiness but chooses joy. Joy is more of an attitude of the heart and spirit that brings us lasting comfort and peace even when we go through the storms of life. Just as having an attitude of thanksgiving and praise is a by-product of realizing how wonderful Jesus is, joy should become a part of our Christian countenance too. And the more we fall in love and reverence Jesus, joy will become a shield to protect us when trials and tribulations come our way. Happiness is nice to experience but it is fleeting. Joy, on the other hand, is a fruit of the Spirit and so much more fulfilling to our souls.
1 Joy vs. Happiness – The Biblical Difference Explained (biblestudytools.com)
2 The Difference Between Joy and Happiness (compassion.com)
3 What is Joy in the Bible? Christian Meaning, Definition, and Importance (christianity.com)
Excellent teaching. Would you say that joy is illustrated by creatures and plants, fields and the sea even though these things do not have a relationship with Jesus? I am thinking that we can see what rejoicing looks like by observing roaring waves, bright colored flowers, and rivers “clapping their hands.” A question to study is: What does God mean when he says, “Let the earth rejoice”? Thanks.
Hi Neal:
I love your thought that nature rejoices by acting out the way God designed it to be. You are right to consider the meaning of the phrase, “Let the earth rejoice.” I think you are on to something with your examples.