Joy Vs. Happiness
Happiness is temporary. It comes and goes based on our circumstances and emotions. The sun makes me happy. But, all too soon, winter will rear its ugly head, and the sun will be stuck behind the clouds. (Fun fact: Cleveland, on average, has 299 cloudy days out of 365… and a quarter.)
Flowers make me happy. But they, too, are temporary. Things in this world can bring us temporary happiness, but only God can give us lasting joy. Finding community and support with other believers can be joyful, even if it is not always easy. Letting people into our lives can be scary and stressful, but encouragement from those we love can keep our hope set on God. They can support us through difficult times when joy is hard to find, and advise us when we are tempted by sin. But, throughout all of it, joy is there.
We can find happiness in the smallest things, especially when we search for it. Joy, however, is a choice to live every day in the hope of God. To know that there is more for us than this life. We can choose to find happiness in the mundane, but choosing to live in joy every day is a challenge worth taking.