How do you know when someone is happy? Do you only know it when they actually say the words, “I am happy”? Or can you tell it by their faces? Think back to a little kid on a swingset, soaring high in the air. Or a parent seeing a child who has been far away for a long time. Or even someone eating a really good dessert on their birthday. Usually someone who is happy shows it: their eyes sparkle. Their mouths grin. Their cheeks flush, and their whole body radiates happiness. It’s amazing: after spending time with someone happy, usually you feel happy too.

Happiness is a fleeting emotion, but it’s related to the concept of joy. Joy is more a state of mind and a way of life. Joy is also easily seen in someone’s face, but it lasts longer, and it persists despite difficult circumstances. No one can be happy all the time, but God’s joy should be a steady current running through our lives. In fact, the book of Nehemiah says, “The joy of the Lord is [our] strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). 

Joy in the Lord’s goodness and provision isn’t just about being happy; it’s the reason we get up each day. It’s the source from which we draw our strength. Many seem to draw their strength from anger or frustration, but if we draw our strength from the joy God gives us, we will stand out. People will wonder where our joy comes from, and we can share about the life-changing joy of the Lord.

This is Luis Palau.