Pursue Joy

It is human nature to be in pursuit of happiness but it is divine nature to pursue joy. We are living in a world that is always chasing after happiness but on the contrary there is much misery and disappointment in the world. People are not at peace. Their minds and hearts are increasingly troubled. There is no happiness in the world unfortunately.

Should we be pursuing happiness in the first place? There is a danger there because happiness is dependent on what is happening around. Happiness is defined as an agreeable feeling or condition of the soul arising from good fortune or propitious happening of any kind.

When you get that monthly pay slip you feel happy. When someone says you have won the game you are happy. It is dependent on what is happening at the moment. It is temporary and in the absence of what will trigger that kind of excitement you drown in the pool of anxiety. Stress levels rocket sky high as the situation persists. Happiness is not sustainable and it is not sustaining.

Instead of happiness we are better pursuing joy. This refers to gladness (joyful satisfaction) or the state of being pleased. Joy is more than just happiness because it has to do with being content. Responding to the generosity of the Philippians whilst he was in prison, Paul says, “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I learned in whatever state I am, to be content;” (Philippians 4:10 – 11).

Whilst Paul was happy that the Philippians had sent him a gift, his joy was in the fact that finally the Philippians had their desire to show love fulfilled. Note that Paul said “I rejoiced in the Lord…” This is in line to what he encourages the Philippians to do, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say it, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4).

As believers we ought to rejoice always. After all we belong to the Kingdom of God which is described as righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The big difference is that happiness is the condition of the soul (mind) arising from happening of any kind and joy is an exhilaration of the spirit and comes from the Lord . Happiness is temporary and joy is eternal.