Pure Joy vs Happiness
June 28, 2023
Do you know the difference between pure joy and happiness? This is actually something that God has been teaching me lately, in more ways than one. Whether it was through a friend, a book, or His Word, God made it evident that I truly didn’t know the difference between joy and happiness.
Have you ever noticed that the word “joy” starts appearing more often during Christmas time, especially on pillows, decorations, and songs? For me, I only associated the word joy with Christmas, but let me tell you a secret…You can have joy at all times!! Even if it isn’t Christmas!!
That may sound like the stupidest thing ever, but it never really occurred to me, so I wanted to bring light to this situation in case someone else didn’t know this.
Pure Joy is different.
I am currently reading, “Kingdom Women” by Tony Evans, and let me tell you, if you aren’t reading this series of books, you are missing out on so much growth!! This book has been helping me know my identity in Christ and to grow into the kingdom women God is calling us, women to be! I highly suggest buying this book, I’ll even include an Amazon link at the bottom to this book because it is SO good!!
Kingdom Women, it is talking about the struggles of abiding in God’s word when He hasn’t been answering your prayers, not for days, but for years!! Maybe you’ve been praying about a loved one, or finances, or you just feel so lost. This is such a tough feeling, trust me I have been here so many times, and frankly I still feel like this from time to time, but we have such a glorious, gracious, and loving God that He doesn’t just let us sulk in the waiting, He gives us a gift that we can’t get from anyone but Him; He gives us joy!!
Bible verses:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face many trials of many kinds…” James 1:2
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” Galatians 5:22
Now if you are new to following God, you may be asking the same questions as I was asking, why should we consider it pure joy when we face trials? I don’t know about other people but joy is the last thing I feel when I face trials, yet God is saying through our trials and temptations comes real faith. Through trials and temptations, we get the opportunity to grow our perseverance and faith, which in terms draws us closer to the Lord.
Yet, don’t feel dismayed if you aren’t over the moon that you don’t have rent money this month. Most people aren’t.
This kind of mindset takes practice and lots of prayers. Faith is hard and definitely not easy. But we have a God who makes all things possible.
Kingdom Women:
” I have good news for you. If you are abiding, God has given you something to make the wait worthwhile: joy: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (verse 11). Don’t be confused; joy is different from happiness. Happiness is a warm, bubbly feeling you get when things are going well. Real joy has nothing to do with how things are going. Joy is a question of your state of mind, regardless of how things are going. In fact, joy itself is called a fruit of the Spirit. Joy has to do with a God-given internal ability to cope well. It can produce peace in the midst of panic and calm in the midst of turmoil” (Kingdom Women, 146).
Did you catch that?! Tony Evans wrote the word, regardless. Regardless of the fact that you lost your job, regardless of the fact that your marriage is failing, regardless of the fact that you feel lost beyond measure, you can still have joy that can produce unimaginable peace in the midst of panic!! Happiness is situational, it relies on you having a good day; in order for you to have a good day, every little thing has to go exactly right, but joy? Joy depends on our unwavering, omniscient, all-powerful God who loves us so much that He is willing to grant us the fruit of the Spirit.
But how do we get joy?
And my answer is through God! Through seeking Him in the midst of the storm! Through abiding in Him! Through asking Him to take your pains and suffering away and replace them with unwavering joy and peace! Don’t give up. Have faith and seek His joy throughout your trials and pains. May you consider it pure joy to face many trials.
