What is the difference between Happiness and Joy? In which state are you currently? Are you happy or are you Joyful?
Compassion International has this article about the Difference Between Happiness and Joy: “Happiness depends on external factors. When we hear a favorite joke, we laugh. When someone gives us a gift, we grin. When we hear our favorite song, we dance and smile. Happiness happens to us … “ <!–split–>
Joy, on the other hand, is a choice we purposefully make. Even if our day-to-day is filled with hurt and disappointment, we can still choose joy. Joy can share space with other emotions, such as sadness and fear. But happiness can’t. Happiness isn’t present in darkness and difficulty. But joy can be. If we choose joy, it can transform our difficult times into blessings and our heartache into gratitude.”
We choose joy because we believe that there is the Light in darkness. In John 1:3-5,9 Jesus Christ describes as the Light:
“Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out… This was the real light—the light that comes into the world and shines on all people.”
We choose joy because The Light outshines darkness; the Risen Savior overcomes death. Joy is our faith in action. It is the manifestation of our belief in Resurrection. We can choose to be joyful in all circumstances because we believe that our Risen Savior is with us always.
I remember a Sunday School Song that Mama Pat taught us entitled “Joy is the Flag”:
Joy is the flag that I fly, in the castle of my heart (3x). Joy is the flag that I fly, in the castle of my heart, where the King is in residence there. Fly it high in the sky, let the whole world know (3x). Fly it high in the sky, let the whole world know that the King is in residence there.
As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday, let us choose to raise our Joy high in the sky and be a channel of joy to each other!