Nick If you ask parents what they want for their children it’s not often riches or good jobs, it’s that they want them to be happy.
Sue Happiness is not that easy to define. Often those who are rich and famous are desperately lonely, and have depression or take drugs to combat it.
N What makes you happy?
S Seeing friends, looking at trees and flowers. I love looking at our big skies. You?
N I like taking long walks, spending time with nature – and sometimes talking to God.
S I’ve been reading Bill Bailey’s ‘ Remarkable guide to happiness’ and he includes things like being in a caring community – also group singing!
N So that’s why it’s often said that people live longer if they go to church – all that singing of familiar hymns turns out to be good for us!
S Well yes but the same could be said of going to a football match. Two places associated with mass singing is football and church! I know you read the Bible – does it have anything to say about happiness?
N Yes a bit. But it says more about joy. In the ESV (English Standard Version of the Bible) ‘joy’, ‘ joyful’, and ‘rejoice’ appear 430 times but ‘happy’ and ‘happiness’ appear 10 times.
S Is there any difference between happiness and joy?
N Yes. Often happiness is based on external situations and it’s transitory. Joy comes from deep within, ad it’s like a fountain gushing out water that can’t be stopped.
S How can I find joy?
N Real joy can be found when you decide to have a personal relationship with Jesus, and allow him, by the Holy Spirit, to be involved in your life. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit ( Galatians 5 :22) and it grows in you as you accept that you have messed up ( the Bible calls this sin) and realise that Jesus died in order to give you a new start.
S Does that mean I’ll have an easy life and feel happy all the time?
N No. Nobody has an easy life on earth. There’s always plenty to disturb us. But the joy that Jesus gives goes deep inside to give us a quiet peace even in the middle of our troubles.