We all want joy and happiness. Yet how can we live with joy and happiness? We dream about it. We say to ourselves if only we could do _______ then I would be happy. If I could only attain this goal then I would be happy. Thoughts and dreams of joy and happiness consume us.

We spend good money in hopes of finding it. If only I had that car or that TV or that house or those clothes or those shoes or that ‘toy’ then I would be happy. Isn’t this what stress related shopping is all about? Isn’t the search for joy and happiness one of the main culprits to driving us to live beyond our means financially?

We act a certain way because we think this will bring us joy and happiness. We say to ourself if I was like______ then I would be happy. If I was like anyone else except myself then I would be happy.

Actors and Athletes get paid millions of dollars to entertain us to bring us joy and happiness.

If you are a parent you may put you happiness and joy in your children. If my child does______then I have accomplished something.

Yet does all of this stuff really bring us joy and happiness? Does it? Let’s be honest with ourselves. Does this stuff really bring you joy and happiness? Now please hear me. I am NOT say that any of this stuff is good or bad in and of itself, yet I am asking does this stuff really bring you joy and happiness beyond the momentary.

Let’s pause that thought for a moment and let’s define what is happiness and joy. Are the words happiness and joy synonymous or can we use them interchangeably? Many people do use these words interchangeably but I argue that while they are similar they are different.  Happiness is temporary and is brought about by something that makes you smile, laugh, or feel good about yourself or someone close to you. Happiness is linked to your emotions and they way you feel. The key words here is temporary, emotions, and feeling. For instance when our favorite team wins makes us happy. You are happy when someone compliments you for the way you look or for something you have done. May that long awaited vacation makes you happy. Yet, how long will you be happy about your team winning or about that compliment or that vacation? Maybe a day or two, a week, or maybe even a few weeks. Ultimately Monday rolls around, a difficult decision, or the neighbor you don’t particularly like knocks on your door and that happiness recedes to recesses of your mind until it is forgotten completely.

What about joy? Joy is a deep down, unshakeable satisfaction and contentment.  When someone said something cruel to you your happiness may be taken but your joy remains. When you are let go or fired from your job your happiness may be taken but your joy remains. When your world comes crashing down because of some tragic event your happiness may be taken but your joy remains. Many of you know my story with the loss of my beloved wife Anna to cervical cancer. As Anna became sicker and sicker and ultimately passed away I was not happy. Happiness was the furtherest thing from me. I was the most depressed I have ever been and probably will ever be. Yet through it all my joy remained. You ask, ‘Why did my joy remain?’

I’m glad you asked because this brings us to source of joy. Joy comes from a source greater than things, trips, or relationships. Note with me the source of joy:

• Romans 15:13 (NIV)- “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
• Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)- “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
• 1 Peter 1:8-9- “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Joy that is unshakeable comes only through the Lord Jesus Christ. While we are not promised that everyday will be footloose and fancy free, we are promised joy that comes only through the Lord Jesus Christ.

So here is my question for you, have you found joy?

Tell me what you think. I would love to have a dialogue on this topic.