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| Mike Hosey, Elder |
Joy and
happiness are two different things. Both are pleasant, and both are good to
have in one’s life. But Joy is, by far,
the greater of the two. You see, if one pursues happiness, one may never find joy. But if one pursues joy, one is very likely to
gain some happiness along the way.
The reason
for this is that joy is lasting, and based on something internal to one’s
self. It is a state of being, a way of
looking at the world, and a manner of experiencing and processing those things
around one that are both good and bad. Happiness, on the other hand, is
external, transient, and based only on pleasant things, pleasant events, and pleasant
happenstance. The joyful man is content because he knows the end of the story, and
can endure the hardships and tragedies, and sadness, and can even celebrate them
(sometimes) because of that knowledge. He can have cheer in the midst of pain because
he knows the value of things to come, and can see the value in the places he’s
been. The happy man can only be happy when circumstances are pleasing. When
those circumstances change
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| By Gert Germeraad (Own work), via Wikimedia Commons |
So profound
is the difference between the two that James tells us to count it all joy when
we are met by troubles (James 1:2). He explained in the next verses that these
troubles test our faith and help to transform us into something perfect and
complete. The joy which James writes about comes from knowing the truth of
ultimate victory and ultimate value!
Happiness is
recognizing that your girlfriend or boyfriend is pleasing to look at and
beautiful. This year.
Joy is knowing
that your spouse has walked the hard road with you, and will walk with you to
the end of it, and will share with you the good times and the bad times along
that road because he or she has an enduring love.
Happiness is
the excitement of lust, infatuation, and youth. Joy is the commitment and love
of a spouse that is rooted in the commitment and love of God.
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