Joy

So on to my third weighty word, which is joy.

The Merriam-Webster Definition for joy is:

1a: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires : DELIGHT

b: the expression or exhibition of such emotion : GAIETY

2: a state of happiness or felicity : BLISS

3: a source or cause of delight

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Joy is connected to happiness and sometimes the words are used synonymously, but if you dig a little deeper, and depending on how you use the words, there are some differences.

 

Joy vs happiness?

Compassion has an interesting discussion on the difference between joy and happiness that includes the following list of parings for joy vs happiness:

• Joy is a little word. Happiness is a bigger word.
• Joy is in the heart. Happiness is on the face.
• Joy is of the soul. Happiness is of the moment.
• Joy transcends. Happiness reacts.
• Joy embraces peace and contentment, waiting to be discovered.
• Joy runs deep and overflows, while happiness hugs hello.
• Joy is a practice and a behavior. It’s deliberate and intentional. Happiness comes and goes blithely along its way.
• Joy is profound and Scriptural. "Don't worry, rejoice." Happiness is a balm. "Don't worry, be happy."
• Joy is an inner feeling. Happiness is an outward expression.
• Joy endures hardship and trials and connects with meaning and purpose.
• A person pursues happiness but chooses joy.

See the full article here (definitely worth a read): https://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/difference-between-joy-and-happiness.htm

Both joy and happiness are emotions, and both are good emotions at that. They may even feel the same and hence some definitions equate the two words, but I think the essential difference is that happiness is something that happens to you, whereas joy is something that comes from you and is internal.

I guess another way to think about it is that joy can produce happiness, but happiness doesn’t inherently produce anything beyond the good feeling of the moment.

Christian joy

I want to wrap up this quick look at joy with a definition from John Piper focused on the Christian definition of joy.  He rightly states that words don’t have intrinsic meaning but that they get meaning from the way we use them. His definition is based on what he sees as St. Paul’s use of the word. So here it is:

Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the word and in the world.

Check out his teaching (video or text) here: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-do-you-define-joy

And finally I have to wrap up this brief discussion of joy with the following video…