Happiness or Joy???

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
-Psalm 16:11



Webster's Dictionary
Happiness- A state of well-being and contentment.
Joy- Bliss or a source or cause of delight.



Have you noticed that you will hear a lot of people say they want to be happy, but when was the last time you heard anyone said they want joy? You might hear things like "I would be happier if I had more money" or "I would be happier if I had a man/woman in my life".


I've noticed a lot of celebrities are in the news for a variety of crazy things. Drug overdoses, Rehab stays, drunken moments for the paparazzi to capitalize on, nervous breakdowns in front of cameras, one bad marriage after another, and the list goes on and on as they find new ways to get noticed. I've noticed that these celebrities have one thing in common. They're so busy chasing happiness, they completely miss out on joy.


I believe the same applies for someone suffering from depression. I can attest to that. I always felt like I was on a emotional rollercoaster. some days i would be okay, some days i would be really happy, some days I would be really depressed. I found that even when things seem to be falling apart, joy is what can keep you from falling apart. In the book of Nehemiah, the Israelites were very discouraged and overwhelmed. To say their home was a mess was an understatement. The gates to Jerusalem was destroyed, and the rest of the city was in ruins. On top of all that, they had haters (Sanballat the Horonite, Tobia the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arab) laughing in ridicule at them. Nehemiah and the rest of the Israelites had alot of rebuilding to do. Ezra (the scribe) encouraged the Israelites, saying" Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold." (Nehemiah 8:10)

I'm not saying that happiness is bad. Happiness is a great thing, but happiness is circumstantial. You can have both apart, but happiness is so much sweeter when you have joy as your foundation. Think of joy and happiness like this: the both of them together are like a sweet desert, so let's take cheesecake as an example. Joy is the rich and firm cheesecake, and happiness is the strawberries. Or the chocolate drizzle on top. Whatever floats your boat dessertwise, I'm sure you get the idea. Happiness is so much more fulfilling when you have joy. Without joy, life experiences that bring happiness feel empty.

God is the giver of Joy. He's the only true source of joy. Psalms 16:11 says that the Lord will show you the path of Life, and in His presence is fullness of joy.

Leah is an example of happiness chasing in the Bible. She thought that giving her husband many sons would make him love her more. She didn't realize that God already loved her just as she was, and that even though she was not considered beautiful by human standards, God thought she was beautiful. Instead of focusing on the Giver of Joy, she spent a good chunk of her life competing with her sister for her husband's love. (Genesis 29:31-35, 30:1-22)

One of the greatest tragedies in the world is a life wasted chasing happiness, never knowing joy.