Joy vs. Happiness

Lately, many things have been on my mind. One of the more constant thoughts is that I need to write. I need to journal. I need to blog. I just need to write. I have things to say, and though there are many times when people don't want to listen I still want to speak. So, here we go. Post #1 on my new blog (the last one was deleted because of inactivity...). Let's see if I can keep this one up and running.

Today I feel like writing about joy; joy and happiness. Something that I have realized is that people can't tell the difference between the two. It's either that or they wonder why they can't be happy. Why, though they are certain they know what they want, do they never feel satisfied once they get to it?

I was reading a book for class last week and one of the things the author made a point of throughout the book was joy. Specifically, something he said was that if we spend our whole life needing to be ten feet from where we are in order to be happy we will never attain happiness.

Happiness is situational. It is based on happenings. In fact, it comes from the same root word as the word happen does. With happiness, you need situations to be good. Life needs to be going well. You need to have this thing or that thing...and it goes away in a minute. Joy, on the other hand is quite different.

Joy is a choice. It is a simple choice. It's a lifestyle; a faith; a way of being. You can choose to know joy or not to. It is more a definition of who you are than of what you have. It has more to do with your attitude than the condition of your body or other physical situations. 

It's interesting. We, or at least I know I often do, go through life hoping for that one thing . . . saying "if only" more often than "thank you."

The other day as I wrote I began to think about the relationship status I have had until this year. This month, actually. . . Until this month I had not been "in a relationship" with anyone. It was partially for the reason I mentioned above. I didn't want to rely on a person for my happiness. The other reason was similar; I wanted to trust God first and only. That place doesn't belong to any human.

Now, don't get me wrong. Ryan is one of the greatest things that has happened to me. He is a strong man of God. He cares for and respects me. He knows how to make me smile and laugh, and I very much enjoy every single minute I spend with him. But Ryan knows this too, and he agrees with me. God needs to come first in a relationship. He needs to come first in life. He needs to come first in everything.

Ryan makes me happy, but God gives me joy. And the joy I find in the Lord will never leave me. Even on days like today when, as I look out the window on this first day of spring, I see a blizzard of sorts and snowbanks and drifts unlike any we should be seeing in spring. Even when homework overwhelms me; when the drama of friendships tires me; if Ryan were ever to leave me. . . . I could still have joy in knowing that my Jesus loves me.