What does Happiness look like?

having a sense of confidence in or satisfaction with (a person, arrangement, or situation)

Situational based on the current events

What does Joy look like? 

a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

Continues even through the difficulties that happen. This isn’t based on circumstances, but is based on the presence of God in our lives. Is based off a positive experience. 

In a walk with Christ all we need for joy in our life is to experience the love and presence of the Lord.

Sometimes when we as christians don’t feel joy it can be due to us not experiencing his presence. This can come easily when we don’t actually know what his presence feels and sounds like. 

How do they differ?

What are the circumstances that brought about the emotion? In society they are synonymous because everything is about temporary circumstances. Man/Woman of dreams, lottery, dream house, dream job, raise at work. 

How “change” can cause a loss of the earthly joy?

Looking at this idea, is there anything in this world that can’t/won’t change?

Looking at the circumstances that change we see many can change. Dream job laid off. Money dries up. Kids move away. Star athlete gets an injury. 

Only thing that doesn’t change, The LORD.

EVen finding joy within self, loving yourself so you can love others, we have to understand we are temporary. We can fail ourselves. This is why the only thing we can depend on, including ourselves, is God. 

How can we maintain joy, even through difficulties?

Good news that the reverse is true. The traumas are temporary in that they don’t have to control us forever. The sorrow that they bring can be overcome through something that is constant.

The triggers and the identity attached to these can be temporary. The trauma can never be erased, but the defense mechanism and the copy skills can be overcome. 

How did the early church Christians walk in joy even in the midst of getting killed?

New Testament believers living out the true joy. They just understood what the Lord’s presence truly was. 

Paul with his thorn was content because he knew the presence of God. He could walk through this life and know everything was in the Lord’s hand and he was communicating with us. p

Joy in the scripture

John 15:11

Philippians 4:1-3

2 Corinthians 12

Acts 6-8 Stephen

John 17:24