Are happiness and joy the same? The answer is a big “NO”!! We often get the two confused, but they come from completely different places.

Happiness depends on what happens, in other words our circumstances at the moment. It is an external feeling that can leave just as quickly as it is felt. Joy is internal, it comes from deep within our spirit, from the Lord, and is ours forever.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” John 15:11

One of the most important ways to have this complete joy is to have an attitude of full surrender to God. The closer our relationship with Christ the more our joy increases. He gives us the power to rejoice even when our circumstances aren’t what we would want.

If we are seeking God and praising Him during our trials, burdens, sorrows, losses, sicknesses etc., He provides us with the strength to endure. We may not always carry the smile that comes with happiness, but our spirit can be content and at peace in knowing that He watches over us and helps us during these moments in life.

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

As christians we have a forever joy in our spirit, so the devil wants nothing more than to steal our joy in every circumstance. We have to stay alert and remember our attitude of praise and thankfulness will help us fight the urge to give up and give in. That is why we must make sure we are in close fellowship with the Lord at all times.

Our sin can also steal our joy. When we fall into a sin it causes a division between us and God. That is where our obedience to the Lord comes in. Be aware if you start to feel your joy slipping.

Have you neglected time with the Lord? Is your focus on things of this world? Is there a sin you don’t want to let go of? Ask the Lord to show you what is causing you to lose your joy, then ask Him to help you overcome the obstacle and to restore your joy.

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:12

We can have joy everyday in every circumstance just by remembering our joy is in our salvation. What is more wonderful, as christians, than rejoicing in the hope that our names are written in Heaven? We can have full confidence in God’s word and pass that on to others. The joy of our salvation gives us the opportunity to win people to Jesus. It is proof that what we have is real and that it satisfies, praise God!!!!! The Lord rejoices in every sinner saved, Hallelujah!!!!!

“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10