Psalm 4:7 "You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound."
In Psalm 4:7, David contrasts joy and happiness. He says God fills his heart with greater joy. He compares this "greater joy" to the happiness that is felt when the crops are doing well and the vineyard is overflowing with fresh grapes for new wine.
This phrase "greater joy" really caught my attention as I was reading this week. So as I think about the two, happiness and joy, I decided to list out the differences between the two. I took a piece of paper and wrote "Joy" on one side and "Happiness" on the other. Take some time to do your own chart. God really showed me some things about having a greater joy!
Here's some things from my chart:
Joy is inward and not based on circumstances. Happiness is completely based on circumstances. Happiness is temporary and related to the 'here and now' of what is going on in my life. Joy is something I choose, regardless of if life is serving up lemons. Joy is steady; happiness is unpredictable. Joy defeats discouragement. Happiness covers it up. Joy is an attitude of the heart; happiness is just an emotion that comes and goes.
What makes me happy?
Spending time with my family
Crying at a good movie
Watching the Dallas Cowboys or Dallas Mavericks
Seeing my kids succeed
Hearing my children giggle and lovingly interact with each other
Laughing 'til I cry
A juicy medium-rare steak (yes I actually put that in print...I have to be honest, right?)
Chocolate
Spending time with friends
Leaving crazy voicemail messages for people
Making people laugh
Encouraging people
Yes, I could probably write pages of things that make me happy, depending on the circumstances and how far into my memory I wanted to go. But what about joy? As I try to make a list of 'what brings me joy', the list is a lot shorter. As I understand joy, my entire list surrounds God, my relationship with Him, my dependency on Him, and my consistency in interacting with Him.
The Bible mentions the word "joy" 242 times. There's no doubt that God wants us to have inner joy. In Habakkuk 3:17-18, Habakkuk describes a farmer whose life outwardly may seem like it's falling apart. The crops have died. There are no grapes on the vine. No food to eat. No sheep or cattle. Yet he says, "I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior." True joy is the attitude we choose to adopt on the inside. I won't let circumstances defeat me. I know who my God is, and in Him I trust, regardless of what is happening around me.
There are so many more verses on joy, but today, as I've tried to understand this "greater joy" that David talks about in Psalm 4:7, I'm reminded that true joy is all based on my relationship with God. As I seek Him, as I spend time with Him, He gives me greater joy. He enables me to go to the heights (another great phrase about joy, found in Habakkuk 3:19.)
It's been a really rough few months at work for me, and God has shown me that somewhere along the line, I've let the circumstantial craziness of "work" overshadow my inward joy. I want to renew that greater joy that David talks about in Psalm 4:7.
What about you? Are you going to settle for short-term happiness, or are you going to choose the greater joy? Let's go to the heights together!
---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com