Joy… what exactly does it mean? Is it the same as having fun or happiness? Spending time with a glass of wine or can of jolly with your latest group of good-time buddies? Or is something else? Something more…
I believe it’s the latter. Joy, in my opinion, is eternal. It comes from a place everlasting and doesn’t fade— even when circumstance and surroundings beat on it to attempt to make it. Joy lives on and perseveres through anything… through it all.
Happiness on the other hand? That is temporary and shallow, only worth the shine of a moment— like fool’s gold. It glitters and sparkles against the dancing of the lights, but if to be relied on, will crumble into to dust beneath our feet.
However, truth be known? Happiness is necessary in our lives. It is fun to see and experience… to grasp in our hands. It is important to regulate our emotions and to lift the spirits high to the heavens when we are down. But the realization of its temporal nature must come before its expiration or the heart will crash to the ground and shatter, suffer terrible emotional damage.
Joy will not disappear entirely, but remain and continue in minute quantities, no matter how indiscernible at the time. Its quality remains everlasting while happiness vanishes forever in a heartbeat, never to return except to bring glimpses of memory.
The important differentiation to consider when evaluating joy and happiness in your life is not intensity, meaning, or fleetingly time frame, but it’s temporary or everlasting impact in your spiritual and relational life with God. Why?
For joy is ETERNAL and the only everlasting, eternal good thing comes from above.
Seek joy every minute of your life.
Find your joy today in Jesus and whether you are happy or not, joy will always be with you, and you will never live one single day without a smile.
In Christ,
Renee Blare
Renee Blare Christian Author 