Happiness and Joy
Can we be joyful while being unhappy? In other words, are happiness and joy the same—or are they different?
Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness depends on external circumstances. It comes and goes. It can fade quickly when life gets hard. But joy is different. Joy is rooted in God’s presence and God’s promises. It is deep, lasting, and internal. So yes, we can be unhappy about many things and still have joy. We can rejoice even in the middle of distress, sickness, sorrow, or grief.
Strange Joy
Today’s Scripture gives us a strong example. Peter and the apostles were arrested—again. They stood before the Jerusalem Council, and the religious leaders wanted to kill them. But a wise council member, Gamaliel, persuaded them to leave the apostles alone. The leaders listened, but before releasing the apostles, they had them beaten and flogged. Then comes this surprising verse:
“As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.” (v. 41, NRSV)
The Bible doesn’t say they were happy. But it does say they rejoiced—in suffering. That is what I call strange joy. Where did their joy come from? It came from their calling. The apostles were called to be “witnesses” for Christ. No matter the cost, they stood firm. And through their faithful witness, many came to believe in Christ. Even in persecution, the church grew and God’s kingdom advanced. That was their joy. When we live out our God-given calling, we find deep contentment and joy.
So here’s an important question we should ask ourselves: What is my calling? Am I living it out? Is Jesus honored through my witness and my life? For the apostles, the answer to all these questions was “Yes.” So they rejoiced.
Joy, Joy, Joy
How about John the Baptist? He was a rising star. People from all over Israel came to hear him and be baptized. His ministry was thriving. But then Jesus began his public ministry—and suddenly, the crowds left John to follow Jesus. John’s disciples were upset and confused. I imagine John might have felt discouraged, even embarrassed. He could’ve asked, “Am I on the right path?” But John remembered his identity and his calling. He was not the Christ. He was called to be the voice in the wilderness, preparing the way for the Lord. And he lived out that calling faithfully. Through his witness, people were drawn to Christ. John told his disciples:
“It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success.” (John 3:29, NLT)
And then he added: “He must increase, and I must decrease.” (v. 30)
The apostle Paul is another powerful example. While in prison, he wrote a letter to the Philippians. Some people preached Christ with good motives, but others did it out of selfish ambition, hoping to add to Paul’s pain. Yet Paul wasn’t shaken. He had a clear sense of identity and calling. He knew he was deeply loved by God and called to preach to the Gentiles. Though chained and surrounded by enemies, Paul saw how his imprisonment actually helped advance the gospel. That’s why he said:
“What does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.” (Philippians 1:18, NIV)
For me, I’m just beginning to learn this strange joy. Since July, I’ve felt a greater emptiness in the pews—not just because of numbers, but because my number one ministry companion and cheerleader is no longer here. Since our marriage in 2008, Joyce and I have shared all of ministry together. Her absence has left a big void. I am grieving. Yet, I hear beautiful things happening at Stetson Memorial UMC. Young families and children start coming. People struggling with addiction are finding new life in Christ. New momentum is building. God’s kingdom is advancing. So—even in my sorrow—I rejoice.
Intentional Joy
Joy does not come automatically. We have to choose joy—and keep choosing it every day. The apostles didn’t just rejoice once and move on. They kept choosing joy. “Every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: ‘Jesus is the Messiah.’” (v. 42, NLT) They stayed faithful. They stayed the course. Their joy was not passive; it was intentional joy.
Some of you may wonder, “What is my calling?” or “What does God want me to do?” If you are a Christian—a follower of Christ—your calling is already clear. We all share the same primary calling: It is to know Christ and to make Him known – in our home, in our workplace, in everyday life. We need to be faithful where we are.
Let me share a story. There was once a man walking along a beach after a storm. The shore was covered with thousands of starfish. In the distance, he saw a child picking them up one by one and gently tossing them back into the ocean. The man said, “Why are you doing this? You can’t possibly make a difference. There are too many.” The child looked at the starfish in his hand, threw it into the sea, and said, “It made a difference to that one.”
I believe that’s what our calling looks like. One act of kindness. One encouraging word. One prayer. One visit. One faithful step at a time. For me, my spiritual practice is to pray for each church member every day. And I reach out to those God nudges me toward. When I obey that gentle nudge, and live out my calling, I find joy.
Everlasting Joy
When things got tough, the apostles, John the Baptist, and Paul asked themselves, “Am I on the right path?” And when they saw signs that Christ was being exalted and His kingdom was advancing, they rejoiced. Joy is not just about how we feel—it’s about direction. “Where are we standing?” “Where are we going?”
Billy Graham once shared a powerful story. When he was 92 and struggling with Parkinson’s disease, he was invited to a luncheon in his honor. He hesitated, but finally agreed. After lunch, he stood and shared a story about Albert Einstein:
Einstein was once traveling by train. When the conductor came to check tickets, Einstein couldn’t find his. The conductor said, “Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry.” But Einstein kept searching. The conductor repeated, “Sir, it’s okay—we know who you are.” Einstein replied, “Young man, I too know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.”
Then Billy Graham said, “See this suit I’m wearing? It’s brand new. I bought it for two occasions – this luncheon and for my funeral. I will be buried in this suit. But when you hear I’m dead, I don’t want you to remember the suit. I want you to remember this: “I not only know who I am. I also know where I’m going.”
Life without God is like taking a train without a ticket—it has no destination. Life with God is full of joy—step by step, no matter what. “You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11, NRSV) May we always keep the Lord before us—whether in season or out of season, in good health or in sickness. And may we always choose joy, each and every day. Amen.
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