You can have happiness or joy. Only one will last.

Take my week thus far as an example. So far this week I have:

• been pretty sick
• had blurred vision
• found out I have a birth defect called Asymetrical Facet on one of my vertebrae
• found out that I may have to stop running
• missed out on seeing or holding Nic’s new baby boy Hayden because of my sickness
• had to get a broken laptop fixed
• dealt with a handful of crazy crazy issues at work
• spent hours of un-planned time on a new website and issues it is having
• last, to top it all off, my only flip flops broke

Have I been super happy this week? Not necessarily. But I’ve been joyful because God is rocking my world right now in so many ways.

Happiness happens when things go well. Joy on the other hand comes from something deep within us. Joy does not depend on more money, nicer cars, or expensive vacations. Joy is something entirely different from happiness.

When happiness fades away, joy remains.  Joy is bigger than any current circumstances. Joy brings peace during the stormy seasons of life. God gives us joy through the Holy Spirit.

Joy is important to the believer and Satan loves to try to steal joy.  He’ll even use things that will give you temporary happiness sometimes to distract you and make you think that you have joy.

There is a big difference between joy and happiness.  Happiness is temporary emotion that comes from external things. Joy however is an attitude bred deep in our hearts.

The Bible says a LOT about joy. You should check out these verses. They have been keeping me going this week!

• Habakkuk 3:17-18
• James 1:2
• Philippians 4:4
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16
• John 16:19-24
• Galatians 5:22
• Hebrews 12:2