Happiness or Joy? Happiness versus Joy? Everyone is striving for happiness in their lives. They are trying to attain it. They are trying to hold on to it. But the real question throughout the ages is, what is it? Is it money, wealth, love, relationships, activities, life itself, etc.? What is the difference between Happiness and Joy? Happiness is fleeting. Happiness is a feeling of satisfaction or enjoyment over your current circumstances. There are many words in the dictionary that are synonymous with the word happiness. Contentment, bliss, satisfaction are to name a few. It seems to me that all of these words equate to my original statement that happiness is a feeling that is a result of your current circumstances. When things are going poorly or your circumstances have resulted in negative feelings, than you can not say you are happy. Therefor, it is not possible to be happy all the time.
This brings me back to how I came up with my domain name and what the difference is between happiness and joy. Striving for joy or joyfulness is what God intended for us. Life throws us a lot of curve balls, meaning that we go through many circumstances and trials that create emotional responses whether good or bad. Our lives are filled with happiness, sadness, anxiety, anger, bitterness, contentment, and so on, created by the circumstances in our relationships, finances, work, day to day activities, etc.
To be joyful as God intended, there is a peace and calm that is overwhelming no matter what happens. This peace comes from your faith and personal relationship in the Lord Jesus, knowing that he is in control and is with you and is your rock, your fortress, your strength, your deliverer as it is said in Psalm 18:2. I work on my faith to achieve this joy everyday. It is always a work in progress. It is not something you master but a continuous journey that brings you closer and closer to God.
Have a Blessed day!
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