Tips on Tuesday: Happiness or Joy

A friend at church made a simple comment that has had me thinking hard for a few weeks now. I said something about, "If she's happy, I'm happy to." And without missing a beat he said, "Happiness is an event, but joy comes from the Lord." And he kept on walking. Those of us near him stopped and asked for more.

Here's the thought process of what he said. If you seek happiness, you find it in events. When the event/moment is over, the happiness is gone and you have to go out seeking happiness all over again. It doesn't stick with you and is fleeting. But joy permeates your spirit and soul and stays with you because it comes from the Lord.

I've really been thinking about happiness and joy because I wondered if his words could be remotely true. I've discovered they are true. I can be joyful in the midst of sad circumstances, even when happiness isn't around. So I've noticed myself seeking out the joy of the Lord instead of the happiness of the world.

I've starting researching scriptures regarding joy versus happiness and while I'm not done, I want to share a few verses that spoke to me. (All of these quotes are from the King James version of the Bible.)

Regarding Joy:

John 16:22 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.

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

The word Happiness is not found in the King James version, but Happy is listed 25 times.

John 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.


Interesting to note that Happy is found 25 times in the Bible and the word Joy is found 187 times. This says to me that Joy is more important to us than Happiness. I also note that many of the times Happy is listed, it does refer to an event or an attitude. But Joy is from the Lord--and it endures forever.

So the next time you want to be happy, I encourage you to seek out joy instead. We can't re-happy, but when the chips are down, we can choose to re-joice.