Joy or Happiness

Last night I had the third conversation, in the last month alone, that I have had with different people about the difference between joy and happiness. I was tired and not very articulate, but I wanted to share an article which I think talks about it much better than I ever will.

In my life I have really wrestled with the difference between these two concepts. God gives us joy that originates in the very center of our being. He gives us life and hope and peace, but I firmly believe that He NEVER promises His children happiness: i.e. - good circumstances. We may get good circumstances in our lives, but it isn't a promise. When Christ calls us, He calls us to come and die, to take up our cross and lay down our lives. We are PROMISED persecutions. Trials and burdens are normal by-products of living in a fallen world. I believe that many Christians experience unnecessary feelings of guilt when they are sad about their circumstances, because they don't understand the difference between joy and happiness.

Read Anne Robertson's article at: http://www.stjohnsdover.org/99adv3.html