Guest blogger: Joe Barone - Joy vs. Happiness

“If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:10–11, NIV)

In his writings to the Galatian church, the Apostle Paul describes nine qualities that those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus should expect to see flowing from their lives as a result of embracing the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Joy is one of those nine fruits.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT)

What is this joy spoken of? Is happiness the same as joy?

When I think of happiness, thoughts of that first house, a new car, a job promotion, or a bloated investment portfolio come to mind. But when that furnace fails, the car persistently breaks down, the job now requires nights and weekends, or the stock market takes a dive, the happiness turns into gloominess. Persistent happiness is fleeting, elusive, or all too brief.

Happiness at the celebration of a marriage evaporates at the announcement of a divorce. Happiness embraced at the start of the all-inclusive Caribbean vacation quickly departs at the arrival of Hurricane Joe. Happiness experienced with friends on the pickle ball court shatters like your now broken ankle.  Happiness can be present for days, weeks, months, or years, then gone ever so suddenly.

Unlike happiness, joy is profound and permanent. Happiness vanishes during times of loss, grief and disappointment. Joy persists through setbacks, loss, failure, discontentment, or trial.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. (James 1:2-3, NLT)

Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards; and now he sits in the place of honor by the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2, Living Bible)

Embracing the joy set before him, Jesus endured the trial of the cross.  Aware that our lives are the branches attached to Jesus the Vine, we too can endure our cross and experience Christ-like joy.  If anyone is downcast and unhappy, they are missing that deep, permanent, ever-present joy that comes from the constant presence of having Jesus in their life. As C.S. Lewis, put it, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.”

Joy results from building a foundation on and having a continuous branch-vine relationship with Jesus. Maintaining an eternal perspective, no matter what the circumstances in our life may be, is the inexpressible joy spoken of in scripture.

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.  The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9, NLT)

The greatest earthly pleasure or happiness is just a drop in the bucket compared to this everlasting joy that is ours in Jesus, who promised that those who believed in him would inherit a place in the eternal paradise of heaven. This joy is overflowing and without end.

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. (Psalm 16:11, NLT)