Modern Christianity: Joy & Happy are NOT Synonymous

Joy VS Happy: Modern Christianity

Let’s jump right to it, the title goes to the point. In our current culture the words “happy” and “joy” are often used synonymously. To the world they are the same. For Christians, it is vital that we can identify and understand the difference. Why is this important? The world wants these words to be synonymous. We see it in advertising, media, brand names, and products; all of these things being sold to people promising joy once you obtain whatever that is. So, it is important as Christians that we know the difference, so that we can show the world the difference. 

When we approach our faith, faith is a choice. Love is a choice. And joy is a choice. The choice is the foundation of the differences. We were created with emotions, God gave us emotions, they are what we are naturally designed to have. Being fallen though we are given a choice. While the emotions are natural, we get to choose how we react to them.

A marriage for example: I love my husband. There may be days we argue, there might be days we don’t agree, there are days we are angry with each other, but we have made a commitment to choose love no matter what. We remind each other daily that love is our choice, despite how we might feel during the challenging moments.

It is sad that many in those times can reach the “fell out of love” moment. Now, I won’t begin to put into words how many reasons can cause them, and there are certainly, absolutely times “falling out of love” choosing to no longer love, is completely understandable, and moving on is the safer and healthier decision. In this example I am just talking about couples who just become done with each other. The passion is gone, the emotions are gone, and with it the relationship/ marriage. In those cases, that is an emotional choice, it is allowing emotions to dictate your actions, it is saying you are no longer happy so it isn’t worth it anymore. At times, it can seem the easiest and quickest solution. It can be hard to choose joy or love when strong emotions get in the way.

Just like love is a choice, so is joy. Choosing joy is hard. Joy is choosing to not let the hard times make you bitter. Joy is a choice to not let ourselves be consumed with anger and fear. Joy is what we choose in relation to one another and with God. When we have the natural emotions of happy, sad, angry, confused, etc the choice then comes to how we react to it. Joy, patience, love, peace are not emotions but actions; when faced with a challenge we have a choice of how we react. We can react in the way Jesus would, or we can react the way the world would tell us we should.

Something the world tries to sell is quick solutions to joy. We have all heard someone say “Money can’t buy happiness” – which is where the world tries to make these words synonymous. My opinion, you can buy happiness. You can buy something that gives you that dopamine and serotonin rush, triggering the chemicals in your body that produce happiness. This is not the case with joy. Joy can never be purchased and it isn’t something we can own, it is not a reaction to something. Stuff can certainly for a time make us happy, but it will never bring joy. There is so much in the world that would try to convince us that the only way to joy is through stuff, buying things, experiencing things. Just look around, signs in stores, ads on tvs, pop ups in social media, all trying to sell us joy. 

I’ll speak of the example I think of most – Since I was young Disney has been a big part of my life. I watched every Disney movie, I watched Disney Channel. And the main vacation we went on was to Disney. I am privileged enough to have family that is able to visit Disney World frequently. I even got married at Disney World, as they would say “Making my dreams come true!” and “The happiest place on earth”. When I think of Disney I am reminded of many things, and while those memories make me happy I sometimes have to remember, the happiness doesn’t last. Happy is a feeling, an emotion, a reaction to worldly pleasure. For a brief time, Disney feels like magic, I can leave all my worries and stress behind. But, that will never bring joy, as much as I wish and I'm sure others wish it could. There is no magic wand we can wave and “poof! joy!”

When you choose joy, you choose how long to maintain it. It is something you actively choose to dwell in. The bills might be late, you may feel stuck in a tough job that makes you miserable. Those things certainly don’t make you happy, and that is normal, but you can still choose joy.

Joy is something that separates Christians from the world. James 1:2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” This is a prime example. In times of trials and challenges, we are not going to be happy. Life might just suck at times, but we choose joy. We don’t let the bad times affect our attitude towards others or our faith. We display Jesus when we choose joy. To many people, it’s totally crazy, they call it wishful thinking, forced happiness, fake, pretending. And they can think that. But we are to hold onto joy in those situations. In fact, we are told that we should consider it joyful to face trials. We are not told we will be happy, but that we should choose to move past the emotional reaction and not let them dictate our response to the hard times. 

I don’t want to suggest that no matter what is happening in your life, you should be all smiles. Joy doesn’t mean not feeling or forcing away pain, sadness, anger; our emotions are natural. Joy is feeling that way, but remembering God is in control, that God can give you peace that goes beyond understanding. It isn’t fake and it shouldn’t feel fake. Joy is not a happy mask you put on, it doesn’t mean your pain isn’t there. It means you won’t let it shake your faith.

I can speak to emotions I’m sure we all have, something at work did not go my way, it was frustrating. While I may not feel happy right now, I can choose to dwell on that anger or I can  choose, despite not liking it, I focus on more important things and move on. And that’s the important distinction. Emotions are the knee jerk response, they happen sometimes before we can even stop them. Those emotions are not bad, but it depends on what you do with those feelings. That is when you have a choice, to choose to live and dwell on those emotions, reacting to them in a harmful way, or you can choose to be joyful, peaceful, grateful.

Look through the Psalms. There are far too many examples to name them all. We see example after example of David coming before the Lord in good and bad times. He would maintain his praise and joy, even in his heartbreak he would praise, in his times of celebration he would choose joy. While David certainly made sinful choices, as any other person does, he is an excellent example of focusing on God with joy. The moments of triumph or the moments of despair David cries out to the Lord, acknowledging that God is greater than those emotions and that his emotions will not dictate his relationship with the Lord.

At this point you may be wondering “Why is this important in relation to worship arts?”

It is important we understand the difference before we set foot on the platform. I’m sure each of us has had that Sunday morning when the last thing we want to do is praise. Luckily, while feeling happy and excited is an emotion and can make that choice hard, I am often reminded that is not the point of worship. God deserves my worship no matter how I feel. I need to make the choice for joy instead of letting my emotions dictate my reactions and motivations. When we approach worship, it should not dwell on how we feel, but it is that our faith is more important than our feelings. That God is God no matter what, and that as long as we focus on that, joy is always a choice. 

Tell me your thoughts on the important distinctions between joy and happy! Next week I’m diving into what it means to create a space of joy. 

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Ministry of Joy