Joy is often presented as “true” contentment based on faith. The Christian knows that joy is found in self-abandonment. I’ve heard it said that God desires our growth rather than our comfort or happiness. His joy doesn’t come and go based on circumstances. Happiness, in contrast, is often thought of as “false” or “superficial” emotion dependent on circumstances. Joy and true happiness is everlasting because the source of it is everlasting. Psalm 32 talks about the man whose sin is forgiven as being blessed (or happy). 8. But attempting to make a clear and hard distinction between happiness and joy is a bit pointless. When you are filled with His joy, it will spill out to others, and your joy will be complete. The joy of the Lord is everlasting, and His peace sustains us in all things. Joyful people express happiness. True joy is a gift from the Lord. I believe God brings happiness in life through things like loved ones or dancing or laughter or sports. I would like to start off by saying there is a difference between joy and happiness. In heaven, it’s happy because you’re with loved ones god … God’s peace and His joy are proof that God gives good gifts to His children and that He desires our happiness. 1. We cannot make joy on our own – all true joy comes from God! Psalms 34:8 - O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him. Galatians 5:22. Truly, happiness itself isn’t found in seeking it. There is nothing in the Bible that suggests we divorce joy from happiness. By God’s grace we can be happy despite our circumstances. Happiness is dependent on circumstances, but true joy and true happiness comes from our faith in Jesus Christ. In Scripture we see that joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. If you just define happiness as pleasure, then I don’t know if God is that concerned with happiness. John 16:24 - Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. Romans 15:13 says, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. In other words, surrender your life to God and in that act of surrender true joy can begin to well up inside of you. John 14:1 - Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. Happiness is found in seeking God. The world looks for happiness through self-assertion. No other joy can fill you up like it. “If a man will let himself be lost for My sake,” Jesus said, “he will find his true self.” –Elisabeth Elliot 1. But this is a false dichotomy. True and lasting joy, or happiness or blessedness, results from our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. True joy that comes from God is full, eternal and pure. Related post: 10 Bible Verses about Patience. Joy comes from believing God, belonging to His Kingdom, and knowing Jesus as Lord. 12 Psalm 144:15 Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!