Joy and happiness at times get intertwined, but should they? I believe a greater distinction between the two needs to be made. It’s true both are pleasurable positive emotions that bring us contentment. However, happiness is a state of mind, and it’s the thing we do (our circumstances) i. e. exercise, conversations, human interactions, etc. that make us happy.
On the other hand, joy is much deeper. It reaches our soul on a spiritual level. Even. Under the most trying and difficult situations we can still experience joy. “Count it all joy my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds.” (James 1:2). We experience joy when our relationship with our Creator and his Son Jesus intensifies. Our heart leaps with joy, and we are blessed with better health. “A joyful heart heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22). It’s imperative that we experience more joy than distress in our life.
Experiencing more joy in our lives will help us mentally, physically, and most of all spiritually. I have found the closer I get too Jesus the more joy I experience. My hope and prayer is that all of us stay close to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and experience more joy in our lives. Until the next time, Love and Blessings top all, Carbie.
The One-Minute Prisoner 