Advent: A 25-Day Countdown to ChristmasSample

Joy vs. Happiness

There are many similarities between joy and happiness. They’re both positive, make you smile, and improve your day. But there are also some big differences. So let’s explore the differences between joy and happiness.

Happiness happens to you. When a friend sends words of encouragement, you get the job, or find your lost keys, you feel happy. It’s a response and it feels good. But, like all emotions, happiness fades over time. Joy is different.

In the Bible, joy isn’t an emotion. It’s an attitude. Joy is a resilient cheerfulness anchored in the goodness of God. Think of it like a lens, helping you see your life in a different way. Joy recognizes the pain people experience every day but also remembers God’s kindness, love, and good plans for the world. Then, joy allows these truths to influence how we speak, act, and present ourselves.

So what does joy look like? Well it doesn’t always look like constant smiling and a bubbly personality. Instead, it looks like a perspective informed by the good news of Jesus.

Imagine your best friend has a surprise party later in the day. It’s your job to keep them busy until the celebration kicks off. So while you do ordinary activities with your friend, knowing there’s a party coming changes your attitude.

Knowing good news changes you, so it’s often hard to hide. As followers of Jesus, we know the best news—God loves us despite our flaws and failures and will do whatever it takes to restore every broken, painful, and unjust thing in our world. When we trust this news, joy overflows from our lives into the people around us, no matter what we’re facing.

Today, you’ll get to read a passage written by David, a shepherd who became king. In it, you’ll see he’s experiencing pain and doubt, yet he can also rejoice. Why? Because he trusts God’s love, goodness, and salvation.

But what if you’re not feeling particularly joyful this Christmas? Does it mean God isn’t working in your life? No, definitely not.

But here’s the good news: God wants to help you become a joyful presence in the world around you. In the New Testament, we get a list of qualities God’s Spirit develops in our lives. These are called the fruit of the Spirit, and as you might’ve guessed, one of them is joy. This means that as we pursue closeness with God, God will fill our hearts with joy.

There’s a party coming in the future when God finishes His restorative work, heals every injury, and wipes away every tear. We can embrace lasting joy no matter what we’re going through.

Pause and Pray:

Lord, thank You for Your offer of joy. Please help me choose to accept Your offer. Help me to be thankful and to joyfully celebrate what You have done before and what You are doing now. Teach me to be obedient to You in everything I do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Reflect or Discuss:

How can knowing the end of God’s story change your attitude today?