Happiness vs. Joy

I love Christmas music. One of my favorite radio stations has been playing it non-stop since Thanksgiving, and I’m loving it! (That way, I don’t have to buy CDs or download the songs myself.) One song that I seem to be hearing over and over is “Home for the Holidays.” A line in it that stands out to me is, “If you want to be happy in a million ways, for the holidays, you can’t beat home, sweet home.”

Being happy in a MILLION ways—really? I understand that it’s easy to be happy at Christmas. People are friendlier, family members are more loving, and the music and decorations bring back pleasant memories. It’s a good time of year. And being at home, with your family’s traditions, will probably make you happy (although I’m having a hard time coming up a million ways it makes me happy).

But sometimes, Christmas isn’t happy. Some people’s homes aren’t happy places at Christmas. The first Christmas without my grandfather was so hard. When my friend’s brother was serving in Iraq, her family skipped Christmas entirely that year rather than celebrate without him. More commonly, family members get on your nerves, and you end up in a bad mood. Christmas doesn’t always feel like the most wonderful time of the year.

While the circumstances around you may determine your happiness, they do not (or should not) affect your joy. Today’s devotion in ec is about joy. Where do you find joy? It’s easy to think that making the team, snagging the girl or guy, acing the test, getting the coolest phone, or a multitude of other things will bring you joy. If that’s your definition of joy, you need to rethink it. You’re confusing joy with happiness or satisfaction, both of which are temporary. Think about it: How often have you gotten the thing you wanted, then become dissatisfied with it or forgotten about it as you’ve focused on the next goal to achieve? What you thought would bring you “joy” only left you wanting more.

Christmas itself can be kind of like that, if you’re not focusing on its true meaning. You’re happy thinking about spending time with your family and friends, giving and receiving gifts, and attending holiday parties. But when Christmas morning is over and there are no more surprises under the tree, it can be a letdown. But as believers, we know that our happiness isn’t diminished just because the presents are unwrapped and the guests have gone home. The real meaning of Christmas should bring you something better than happiness; it should bring you joy.

Joy is, in fact, happiness unhinged. It’s not dependent on circumstances; it’s dependent on the Lord. Circumstances change. God doesn’t. And when you’re encountering Him, the things in life that bring you happiness or sadness sort of pale in comparison to His glory.

This Christmas, focus on Christ. In His presence, you’ll find a joy behind the happiness that the world tries to make Christmas about. There’s much more to this celebration than good times, family, yummy food, and presents. There’s joy in the fact that we’re celebrating the start of God’s plan to get us to heaven when He sent Jesus to earth. So this Christmas season, I wish you happiness. But more importantly, I wish you joy.