Recently I read a post on a blog, People Of The Second Chance, about joy versus happiness. The reason I wanted to share this with you today is because so often we get caught up in this idea of being happy. The truth is God never promises us happiness but does say that when we seek Him and follow after Him He will give us joy. Joy comes from God and happiness comes from this world. When we can really understand that there is more to life than just being happy a change begins to take place in our lives. I hope this blog post is an encouragement to you today and challenges the way you think and see things.
Brad Snipes
Middle School Student Pastor
WHAT’S JOY GOT TO DO WITH IT?
By: Heather Palacios
By: Heather Palacios
There is a difference between joy and happy.
Joy is like a hot air balloon, it
lifts everybody up. Happiness is like a helium balloon, it only lifts
itself up.
Joy is not dependent on what is happening in our lives–joy is
dependent on what is happening in our hearts.
If we have a heart and God is in it,
joy is available. Boom! We don’t have to buy it, we don’t have to gamble
on it, we don’t have to exchange something for it. In Isaiah 61, God
says, “Instead of shame and dishonor, you shall have a double
portion of prosperity and everlasting joy.”
Satan is going to try to show us the
pain, not the point. Satan is going to try to show us the loss not the
gain. Satan is going to try to show us the frustration not the
blessing. But Jesus said, “These things I have
spoken to you, that my joy may remain IN you and that YOUR joy may be full!” Even though circumstances may hang like clouds over
your life, joy is not lost or found in those clouds. Joy is in your heart.
The joy of a Christian is not a
possibility, it is a reality. Joy is YOURS in HIM. Claim it. Receive it. Work
it.
