Why is it that so few Christians find joy in being Christian? It’s true, many believers are not finding joy in their Christian life. I believe that being a Christian is the only way to live, to find a measure of genuine happiness in this life. But experiencing genuine joy in life is more elusive than we think. Why?
Scripture shows the wonderful possibilities of Christian happiness. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Phil. 4:4-7, 10, 11-13).
Many people have the idea that Christianity is sober, somber, and even sad. Actually it is a joyous life experience, even when things don’t go so well in our lives. The above passage commands us to... Rejoice! Christianity and a life lived in Christ teaches us how to find true happiness and joy. It teaches us how to rejoice in all things encountered in our lives no matter the circumstances.
A dictionary definitions of happiness is... “A state of well-being, a pleasurable or satisfying experience.” The definition of the word “rejoice,” from which our word “joy” comes says this... “To feel great delight, to welcome or to be glad.” In other words, it means to be unusually happy, or to have a wonderful, buoyant feeling inside oneself. Happiness is temporary, caused by external things, while Joy appears to be internal, intrinsic and sustainable over the long haul of life. A life lived in Christ that is.
Depending on the translation, the Bible uses the words “happy” and “happiness” about 30 times, while “joy” and “rejoice” appear over 300 times. If we look at some verses it will help us understand why joy is different from happiness. We also will see that the two words... happiness and joy are not really interchangable.
Genesis 30:1-13 tells the story of two sisters, Rachel and Leah, and their rivalry over their husband, Jacob. Each woman tries to have more male children in order to please him, even using their handmaidens to conceive more offspring. Leah’s handmaiden, Zilpah, bore Jacob a second son and verse 13 says, “Then Leah said, ‘Happy am I! For women have called me happy.’ So she named him Asher.” Thus the word happy comes from the Hebrew root word ashar and means to set right or be blessed. We also find the word happiness in Deuteronomy 24:5 which says, “When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out with the army nor be charged with any duty; he shall be free at home one year and shall give happiness to his wife whom he has taken.”
The word “joy” comes from the Greek root word “chara” and means to be exceedingly glad. James 1:2 says, “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials...” How could we ever consider going through difficulties and trials a reason to feel joy? James 1:3-4 gives us a clue when it says, “…knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Deep, abiding joy comes as we persevere through trials, with God’s help, and our faith matures and is strengthened. The Apostle Paul had joy in his life even though most of his life in Christ was filled with circumstances and experiences that wouldn’t be considered by any standards cause for happiness. Yet, even in the difficulties Paul endured, he was a real happy guy. He found happiness in being content with his circumstances. He had internal joy and outward expressions of happiness in knowing he was honoring God through his faithful obedience and perseverance. Happiness tends to be fleeting and depends upon temporal factors like our circumstances or other people.
Joy, on the other hand, is true contentment that comes from internal factors like our faith in the Lord. True joy is everlasting and not dependent upon our external circumstances. The book of Philippians is a great study in the difference between joy and happiness. Written by the Apostle Paul while imprisoned in Rome, he uses the words “joy,” “rejoice,” and “joyful” 16 times and teaches us how to have true contentment in Jesus Christ, despite our circumstances. In chains and aware that his life was coming to an end, Paul talks about his faith and trust in Christ and how it had changed his whole perspective on suffering. In Philippians 1:12-24 Paul says that because of his 2-year imprisonment (Acts 28:30), the whole Roman guard heard the gospel from him, and it had even spread throughout all of Rome. In verse 18 Paul says, “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice.” Paul goes on to encourage others to have peace knowing that God strengthens us (Philippians 4:13) and “supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Wow! What can you say to any of his powerful expressions from a heart devoted to God and filled with joy in serving Him faithfully.
Know this... all we do for God is intentional... our choice. Our faith... our obedience... our service to others... our perseverance through life’s difficulties are all of our choosing. God rewards our passionate commitment to Him with an indescribable internal joy that is manifested externally, visibly, noticeable to others as a life in harmony with the Lord, characterized by contentment and happiness knowing we are being blessed and strengthened by Him.
So the Bible teaches that happiness is fleeting because it often depends on things outside of ourselves, but true joy is eternal because it is based on our relationship with Jesus Christ, which is itself an everlasting source of joy.
How can I experience joy in my Christian life?"
Periods of sadness and depression can enter the life of even the most devout Christian. There are many examples of this in the Bible. Job wished he had never been born (Job 3:11). David prayed to be taken away to a place where he would not have to deal with his harsh reality (Psalm 55:6-8). Elijah, even after defeating 450 prophets of Baal with fire called down from heaven (1 Kings 18:16-46), fled into the desert and asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:3-5).
So how can we overcome these periods of joylessness in our lives? Remember, our quest for joy is internal and a symbiotic relationship with God. We must be constantly connected to Him... “in step with the Holy Spirit”... (Galatians 5:25). God infuses us with joy when we’re living in the middle of His will. To stay in the middle of His will, connected to Him, requires a continuous process of renewal, reaffirmation and perseverance. It’s not easy.
People just like us... overcame their bouts of depression. Job said that, if we pray and remember our blessings, God will restore us to joy and righteousness (Job 33:26). David wrote that the study of God's Word can bring us joy (Psalm 19:8). David also realized that he needed to praise God even in the midst of despair (Psalm 42:5). In Elijah's case, God let him rest for a time and then sent a man, Elisha, to help him (1 Kings 19:19-21). We also need friends that we can share our hurts and pains with (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). It may be helpful to share our feelings with a fellow Christian. We may be surprised to find that the person you confide in has struggled with some of the same things that you are going through.
Most importantly, dwelling on ourselves, our problems, our hurts, and especially our pasts will never produce true spiritual joy. Joy is not found in materialism, it is not found in psychotherapy, and it most certainly is not found in obsession with ourselves. It is found only in Christ. We who belong to the Lord “glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3). To know Christ is to come to have a true sense of ourselves, and true spiritual insight, making it impossible to glory in ourselves, in our wisdom, strength, riches, or goodness, but in Christ—in His wisdom and strength, in His riches and goodness, and in His person only. If we remain in Him, immerse ourselves in His Word, and seek to know Him more intimately, our “joy will be full” (John 15:1-11).
Finally, remember that it is only through God's Holy Spirit that we can find true joy (Psalm 51:11-12; Galatians 5:22; 1 Thessalonians 1:6). We can do nothing apart from the power of God (2 Corinthians 12:10, 13:4).
Indeed, that’s why so many Christians are miserable today. They are trying to be joyful through their own efforts. That will only lead to misery. Happiness in this life is built on the Joy the Lord infuses within us. Rest in the Lord's arms (Matthew 11:28-30) and seek His face through prayer and Scripture. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
