The Joy of the Lord vs being happy

What is the difference between the Joy of the Lord and happiness?

Happiness (or being happy) is a state of now. It is a fleeting feeling. It is based off of your present situation. When your situation changes so does your state of happiness.

The Joy of the Lord is spiritually a higher plain. The Joy of the Lord will make you break down and cry because you know God is so good. It is not based off of how you feel now. It is based off of who God is. He is a provider, a deliverer, a counseler, a friend that sticks closer than a brother, one who cares, He who loves you so much he sent his Son to die for you, he who is the Alpha and Omega, and he who created all things. Knowing this, the Joy of the Lord gives us hope.

I remember being in my bedroom as a young adult being faced with mounting problems. I didn't know what to do so I took it to God in prayer. I poured my heart out to God. I hid nothing, its is not as if he didn't know how I felt or what I thought. No matter right or wrong it is best to tell God how you feel. If you are not honest in prayer, right or wrong, you cannot recieve his correction. As I prayed to God, the presence of the Lord filled my room so heavily with love and joy that in the midst of a bad situation I didn't care. I knew he would work it out. And indeed he did. The presence of God I felt was beyond what I can describe. The only thing I could say at that time was I felt loved. I knew that God the Father through his Son Jesus was with me saying I am thinking about you.

Happiness does not transcend your situation because it is based on your situation. The Joy of the Lord will not allow you to take in the poisons of life, like doubt, fear and worry to destroy your peace. The Joy of the Lord is your strength. When fear comes happiness says I'm out of here.

So don't desire to just be happy the rest of your life, seek the Joy of the Lord.



[Jn 16:21] A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world. [22] And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.