The Difference between Joy and Happiness

The Why Not Run Workshop Series

In short, happiness is dependent upon our circumstances. Joy on the other hand cannot change according to how our life is going.

If you’re like me, you’ve been told this your entire life, but never understood what exactly joy was.

In all honesty I did not fully comprehend it until looking up the definition one last time before writing this post. But before I give you the “definition” of joy I need to give a little background.

I’ve been studying hope for several years now.

Hope is the one thing humans cannot manifest a counterfeit of into their life.  

That’s because hope is dependent on trust that it’s very possible some future event will happen. Thus, has to be founded upon truth that is unchanging. The only foundation for that is God.

Faith is even dependent upon hope.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Your faith comes from your hope.

The definition of hope is a desire of good accompanied with an expectation of obtaining it or at very minimum, believing that the desired good is obtainable.

Now back to joy.

The definition of joy is a passion or excitement that comes from the expectation of good.

See how similar it is?

We can’t please God without faith. (See Hebrews 11:6)

You can’t have faith without hope.

You can’t have joy without hope.

Your level of hope is dependent upon your belief system. Do you believe God is who he says he is and will do what he says he’ll do?

Joy comes from hope.

Happiness is a byproduct of your hope fulfilled.

So it’s…

Hope

Faith

Joy

Happiness

Next time I’ll share about peace and how it ties into joy.

But until then,

Happy Running!