Joy and happiness are very different. Joy is based upon our relationship with God; while happiness is based upon our relationship with everything else. Joy is produced by God’s presence. Happiness is produced by circumstances or people. Joy never changes because God never changes. Happiness changes as quickly as our circumstances go south or a person’s actions or attitude towards us change. Joy is about God, Who is love and thus, joy is selfless. Happiness is simply more about us.
We all experience intermittent waves of happiness. We ride that wave until it crashes into the surf and then we immediately begin looking for the next wave. We live for surfing the waves of happiness. We try to avoid anything and anyone who will interfere with our smooth ride.
Most of us spend the majority of our time seeking temporal happiness instead of seeking steady joy—do you know why???
Because joy is from Jesus and He is often our last resort instead of our first response in our everyday life. Joy comes from the pursuit of our relationship with God. We resist yielding our life 100% to God; and instead focus our time and energy pursuing happiness. As my good friend, Nikki Snyder observed, “the more we pursue happiness the more anxious we become.” This is because nothing we attain keeps us happy for long. We always need more because we were not created to be satisfied by the things of this world. We were created to be satisfied by God.
Joy is the great comfort and complete satisfaction we possess in a close relationship with God.
My friend, Jess Richards, described joy as “finding inner peace.” When God is the center of our life and our greatest motivation for living, we possess consistent joy. Our joy is based upon our relationship with God, Who IS LOVE. He never changes. NO change in our circumstances will EVER separate us from Him:
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:35, 37-39
If you want to experience greater joy; pursue Jesus. Make Him the center of all you do. Make Him your greatest love and you will find yourself in the midst of a love that gives you far more than it ever takes. God is FOR you more than YOU are for you. He gave more for you than you can imagine. When you keep Him at the center of your life, He gives you “all things” which includes JOY!
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us ALL things?”
Romans 8:31-32
“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalms 16:11
We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.
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17 Responses
When I read this I could feel my heart become lighter and I could feel myself become so relaxed. I am trying to get my relationship with the LORD back on track and these scriptures truly helped this morning. Thank you for sharing these.
Amen! God is so good to keep us on track with His Word!
Working on my relationship with our “Shepard” so I can be more at peace, knowing I am following His will and not my will.
Me too!!! 😊
thank you so much I needed this and every time I need something God shows me and today he used you thank you very much have a great day on purpose
Praise be to God!!
I used to think that happiness is all about, buying stuff, when you are unhappy. When I finally know what joy is, even when people that I love hurts me, I can forgive. I realized it’s not about me. But I give all to the Lord, then I find peace.
Yes!!! Thank you for sharing!
I really enjoy reading all of your devotion’s, and am blessed by each one. Thank you for sharing them Kim.
I know you share them…Thank you, Shirley for being part of sharing the Gospel!
Amen
Thank you so much for this devotion. I struggle with the selfishness of seeking happiness instead of the blessing of Joy that comes from God.
Me too! The struggle is real but God is bigger than our struggle! Blessings,
Kimbelry
Thank you for Sharing. I lost my brother a few year ago. He was my last living relative. Shortly after I realized I had no Joy. I contributed that to my brothers death. I began reading inspirational books and learned that JOY..comes from the Lord. it never occurred to me. It was in that place that I realized I NEEDED JESUS. MY Journey began with learning Gods words..praying and going to Church. The Best thing that I’ve done for myself is Acknowledging Jesus. My Joy has been restored. I am Happier than I’ve ever been in my Life. GOD IS EVERYTHING. AMEN IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
In God’s presence we discover JOY! Thank you for sharing your experience. Blessings,
Kimberly
this really opened my eyes. l just lost my husband and have not had any joy or happiness, because I was not listening to God who loves me!! I am wore out by pain and the crying all the time, it has been 3 months and everytime I mention his name I break down. so thank you for this u already feel it will gelp me👍🙏🙏🙏
I will pray for you today! God is your greatest comfort and in the strength of His presence, He will help you share His love with others and this will bring you great joy!