Happiness or Joy?

With all of the change that is taking place in our country, I was thinking about the many conversations I have had with people prior to the challenges we now face in our economy. The conversations centered around hurts people have experienced, hang ups people could not seem to move past, and habits that were out of control. Top that off with the economy and “the life” people were longing for seems further away. It always comes down to this… everyone wants to be happy.

Most people have one main ambition in life, “I just want to be happy.” Living near Disney World, we all know that being happy is serious business. We have this idea that we must be happy all the time. I must act happy, talk happy, look happy and if I am not I must fake it, especially at church. Always having to appear happy creates it own stress. The fact is not every day is a homerun. Not everything works out according to the way we planned it. That’s not the end of the world… it’s simply called life.

It is easy to be happy when everything is going your way. But what about the rest of the time? Are you only happy when everything is going your way? If so, you are going to be unhappy for much of your life.

Let’s answer this question without this blog getting to wordy. How can we stay positive and optimistic when it seems everything is falling apart? This is where JOY enters the picture. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. I say it again: REJOICE!”

Happiness depends on what is happening. Circumstances. Luck. “I am happy today because things just happened to turn out right.”

Joy is different. It goes deeper. Joy is an attitude, a choice. Joy is an inside job where happiness is an outside job. Joy does not rely on circumstances. It is not dependent on luck. Joy is what makes life – well – enjoyable. It is your choice to rejoice.

As Christ followers we can be the most positive and joyful people in the world. Why? We have… hope in the leadership of Christ…God has purpose for our lives… God is always with us….

Make a choice to rejoice!