Hey Everyone,
This is actually a personal question I've always wondered: what is the difference between "being happy" and having "the joy of the Lord"?
Several months ago I read a devotional about a pastor who visited two women in the same day and noted the extreme differences in their outlooks on life.
The first woman was in her 40's, had a nice family and good husband, had all their bills paid, but was never happy. She wearily complained to the pastor about all the things she felt were wrong in her life, and never mentioned all the good things the pastor noticed. Nothing was ever right, and even when it was good, it could always be improved upon.
The second woman was in her 80's, was disabled with lots of health issues, and was living on a fixed income. But she joyfully told the pastor about all the wonderful blessings God had given her in her daily life, and made a note in her date book (about her meeting with the pastor), "Had a visitor--yet another happy day."
The first woman was obviously not happy, and she had no joy.
The second woman, I'm guessing, wasn't exactly happy with some of the challenges she was facing, but her joy was more than obvious (provided she was being honest and not just putting on a show. I've been in churches a long time, and yes, I'm cynical like that.)
* Which woman can you relate to in your own life? (I will flat-out confess--I am Woman #1, hands down.)
* What is the difference between happiness and joy?
* How is is possible to have joy but not happiness? And is it possible to be happy but not have joy?
I'm looking forward to your answers!!
And I hope everyone has a good day that's filled with both joy AND happiness.
This is actually a personal question I've always wondered: what is the difference between "being happy" and having "the joy of the Lord"?
Several months ago I read a devotional about a pastor who visited two women in the same day and noted the extreme differences in their outlooks on life.
The first woman was in her 40's, had a nice family and good husband, had all their bills paid, but was never happy. She wearily complained to the pastor about all the things she felt were wrong in her life, and never mentioned all the good things the pastor noticed. Nothing was ever right, and even when it was good, it could always be improved upon.
The second woman was in her 80's, was disabled with lots of health issues, and was living on a fixed income. But she joyfully told the pastor about all the wonderful blessings God had given her in her daily life, and made a note in her date book (about her meeting with the pastor), "Had a visitor--yet another happy day."
The first woman was obviously not happy, and she had no joy.
The second woman, I'm guessing, wasn't exactly happy with some of the challenges she was facing, but her joy was more than obvious (provided she was being honest and not just putting on a show. I've been in churches a long time, and yes, I'm cynical like that.)
* Which woman can you relate to in your own life? (I will flat-out confess--I am Woman #1, hands down.)
* What is the difference between happiness and joy?
* How is is possible to have joy but not happiness? And is it possible to be happy but not have joy?
I'm looking forward to your answers!!
And I hope everyone has a good day that's filled with both joy AND happiness.