"A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” - Proverbs 15:13
God does not want to make
you happy. He wants to make you holy. I know that is a shocking statement to
some people, but He did not die to insure your happiness on earth. I hear
people all the time that justify their sinful actions by using this excuse,
“God doesn’t mind. He wants me to be happy. I deserve it.” For instance, one
woman told her husband, “I want a divorce. You do not make me happy any more,
and God wants me to be happy.” A man told me, “Drinking alcoholic beverages
makes me happy and God wants me to be happy.” I would love to read the Bible
verse from which they ascertained the theory that God wants us to be happy, but
so far no one has ever found one!
The word "happy"
in the Bible comes from the Hebrew root word ashar and means, "to
set right” or “to be blessed.” On the other hand, the Biblical word for “joy”
comes from the Greek word chara, which means, “to be exceedingly glad.”
Happiness is the result of external factors and is a surface emotion in our
soul. It is fickle, transitory and only surface deep.
Joy is one of the fruit of
the Spirit, which He fills us with through sanctification (Galatians
5:22); and therefore, comes from deep within our spirit. When times are good, we
are happy; but when times are bad we lose our temperamental cheerfulness. God
made both the happy times and the sad time (Ecclesiastes 7:14). Happiness
is temporary, moody and fleeting (Proverbs 15:13), but joy is spiritual and lasting, regardless of our
circumstances.
Psalm 4:7 contrasts the two
beautifully. “You have put more joy and rejoicing in my heart, than the
happiness they feel when their wheat and new wine have yielded abundantly.”
Sometimes the joy in our spirit spills over and causes happiness in our soul as
well. Psalm 68:3 shows this, “But may the righteous be glad and
rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.” Our joy comes from our righteous hope in
the Lord (Proverbs
10:28).
Abiding joy is an
overwhelming sense of comfort and gratification that rises above the earthly
realm in which we live. It has nothing to do with happiness. Our God of hope fills us with all joy and
peace, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope in spite
of the conditions in our life (Romans 15:13). Though we have not seen
Jesus, we love Him and believe in Him. This causes us to rejoice with joy that
is inexpressible and filled with glory, because our faith and salvation is
based upon this belief (1 Peter 1:8-9).
An example of having joy
regardless of circumstances is found in the Christian’s attitude about
tribulation. James considered it a joyful experience when he encountered trials
(James 1:2). Thankfully, he
explains how this happens in the next two verses. When our faith is tested, it
produces endurance, stamina and patience, which cause our faith to increase. As
our faith grows, then so does our maturity and we feel complete and do not lack
anything we really need (James 1:3-4).
This joy is deep and abiding. It helps us to persevere through trials.
Alternately, our bubble of happiness bursts at the first sign of discord or
problems.
Joy depends upon our
relationship with Jesus, not on what He does or does not provide for our
pleasure. In Philippi, Paul was chained to various guards under house arrest
for two long, agonizing years; yet, his letter to the Philippians is full of
exhortation to be joyful, even in tribulation. His belief in and dependence
upon Christ affected his outlook on his affliction. He truly felt joy in his
spirit regardless of his physical situation (Philippians 1:12-24). Paul trusted, as Nehemiah did, in the joy of the Lord
as his strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, authentic
Christians maintain their joy in You. Those who are not acquainted with You
merely have times of fickle happiness. We do not need to settle for second
best, shrouded in a mist of depression, when You offer us a personal union with
You that surpasses all other relationships. Joyful and hopeful people find
success even in the most mundane or torturous issues in life. Once we enter
eternity with You, everlasting joy will crown our heads and joy will overtake
us, because all sorrow and sighing will flee away (Isaiah
35:10).
Thought for the Day:
Abiding peace and joy come
to the Christian who looks to God to supply all of their needs according to His
riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).
Thank you, Susan Holsinger, for the use of your photo of clarity in the mist.
