Why Happiness is Temporary but Joy Survives the Test of Time
My eyes were glued to the tv screen, watching in pity as the young lady sobbing stated, “I just want to be happy.” My heart broke for her. Her tear-stained face was once a mirrored image, as at a point in my life, I was her. Her statement in light of her condition was an all-too-familiar pain I could genuinely empathize with. I identified with her search for happiness and the sting of coming to realize that happiness is temporary.
Far too often, we hear this statement said by others. We’ve even cried these very words ourselves. I sure know I have. There’s been tears shed, a heart—I’m ashamed to admit—that’s been at times plagued with envy, and unwise decisions made all because of the desire to be happy.
On occasion, I have asked if the state of happiness can even be obtained by all who desire it. Or better yet, if happiness is even a viable thing to even desire.
We live in a culture that promotes the motto do what makes you happy. Furthermore, there’s this fallen illusion of God wants us to be happy. And sadly, both of these ideas distort our view to believe that the overarching goal of life is happiness.
We see the fancy quotes in support of this thought. Highlight reels inundate our social media timelines catering to this agenda. And because of this idea of “happiness is the goal of life”, happiness is something highly sought after.
Now, Is Happiness a Bad Thing?
No. Not necessarily. It’s actually a great thing to be happy. But unfortunately, in the life we live in, it’s just not sustainable because happiness is only temporary. It is conditional and therefore, highly malleable. It’s purely based on happenings as people, things, and conditions are the driving force of the happiness litmus scale. It takes only one phone call or one wrong turn in the day to cause happiness to dissipate. So in conclusion, with happiness being temporary, establishing it as the principal of life is not a wise thing to do.
Does this mean there’s no hope that brings about fulfillment and we should live our lives in a constant state of doom and gloom?
Again, no. Absolutely not. Happiness found in a person, thing, or condition is not sustainable. But the good news is, joy found in the person of Christ is. Christ Himself offers something greater than happiness that can sustain us in this life we live.
As a Christian believer, we come to learn the fallacy in the pursuit of happiness and deeming happiness as the principal goal of life. First of all, there’s nothing in the Word of God that states that His desire is for us to merely be happy.
Notice I said merely, because God wants so much more for us than just happiness.
What God Wants for Us
Conversely, what is conveyed in God’s Word is He wanting us to be made whole and made whole in Christ. And the presence of joy is inclusive of that wholeness, as the joy of salvation is an ever-increasing joy, provided to every believer. This joy roots and anchors us in the truth of God’s Word. It is a joy that is eternal and transcends our feelings and circumstances.
Ever wondered how a person hit with such unfortunate circumstances were able to carry on with life through faith? Let alone find the strength to get up in the morning? Perhaps you were that individual and can attest to the strength obtained in that time was outside of self.
This is because pure joy exuding from the presence of the Almighty is capable of producing supernatural strength that defies logic. Nehemiah expressed it in this way to the Israelites,
“…the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
That is to say, the communion and intimate knowledge of the Lord brings about an indestructible gladness of heart. Joy that survives.
Joy Survives the Test of Time
Make no mistake about it. This consuming gladness of heart does not mean that tears are never shed or pain is absent. But it means the full knowledge of Christ’s presence, provides an overwhelming sense of peace, stillness, and hope that permeates whatever space we may find ourselves in.
And I can say that at times gripped by discouragement and other times crippled by emotional pain, through tears, I’ve lifted a song of praise. Certainly not because of being happy, but it’s because of this joy.
This joy is witnessed when a family in deep anguish, sing praises to God shortly after losing a loved one. This joy can be seen as a person going into intense prayer and worship, after receiving devastating news. Or, this joy can be depicted as the one whose condition rendered them incapable of uttering a word, lift their hands in adoration to Christ Jesus.
Each of these paradoxes and those liken to them, have me in awe of Christ because it is only the joy of the Lord that makes them possible. Only a sovereign God can orchestrate such a beautiful portrayal of joy in the midst of sorrow—joy void of happiness.
Happiness is temporary, but oh what profound freedom we have as a believer, to pursue such a surviving joy in Christ.
