Happiness is a fleeting emotion; joy is quiet confidence in the midst of chaos. People, finances, and earthly treasures can cause your heart to flutter and your face to smile. These things are what we say make us happy. Then the winds of life changes direction and you watch as those very things drift away. Joy is knowing you were standing on the pier and not in the boat.
Our joy is found in the Lord.
“… Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)
The joy of the Lord is a constant peace and safety in our lives and a reason to rejoice. It is in His strength and His strength alone, that we can praise and worship Him regardless of our current situation or circumstance. This joy found in Him will not change based on anything we do or go through. Feelings of happiness are often dependent upon people, places or things that surround us. Our relationships with others, family, financial gain, paid down debt, and a better situation or circumstance in our lives can make us happy; but, happiness does not fill our hearts with joy. Joy will comfort and sustain you through all of life’s chaos. Joy, not happiness, will put the smile in your heart. It is joy that will give you the strength and courage to say, “It is well with my soul.”
The Lord is our comfort and our joy.
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:19 (NIV)
The stresses and pressures of this life can drown out any happiness we may feel. Too often, we compare what makes us happy to what the world says should make us happy. “Comparison is the thief of joy” (tuckedletterpress.com) Joy can be found in knowing that the Lord is faithful and His love is forever.
Be Filled with His joy.
“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” Psalm 126:3 (NIV)
I have heard it said, “Happiness cannot be bought.” I agree; however, joy was bought with the precious blood of Jesus---our Redeemer. Let us continually focus our minds and fill our hearts with remembrances of His Mercy, Grace, Compassion, Forgiveness and Salvation. These are the great things He has done for us that fill us with great joy.
“Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.” Rick Warren 8.3.17
Fruit of the Spirit: Joy
Happiness is a fleeting emotion; joy is quiet confidence in the midst of chaos. People, finances, and earthly treasures can cause your heart to flutter and your face to smile. These things are what we say make us happy. Then the winds of life changes direction and you watch as those very things drift away. Joy is knowing you were standing on the pier and not in the boat.
Our joy is found in the Lord.
“… Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)
The joy of the Lord is a constant peace and safety in our lives and a reason to rejoice. It is in His strength and His strength alone, that we can praise and worship Him regardless of our current situation or circumstance. This joy found in Him will not change based on anything we do or go through. Feelings of happiness are often dependent upon people, places or things that surround us. Our relationships with others, family, financial gain, paid down debt, and a better situation or circumstance in our lives can make us happy; but, happiness does not fill our hearts with joy. Joy will comfort and sustain you through all of life’s chaos. Joy, not happiness, will put the smile in your heart. It is joy that will give you the strength and courage to say, “It is well with my soul.”
The Lord is our comfort and our joy.
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:19 (NIV)
The stresses and pressures of this life can drown out any happiness we may feel. Too often, we compare what makes us happy to what the world says should make us happy. “Comparison is the thief of joy” (tuckedletterpress.com) Joy can be found in knowing that the Lord is faithful and His love is forever.
Be Filled with His joy.
“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” Psalm 126:3 (NIV)
I have heard it said, “Happiness cannot be bought.” I agree; however, joy was bought with the precious blood of Jesus---our Redeemer. Let us continually focus our minds and fill our hearts with remembrances of His Mercy, Grace, Compassion, Forgiveness and Salvation. These are the great things He has done for us that fill us with great joy.
“Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.” Rick Warren 8.3.17