"I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure" (Psalm 16:7-9*).
Are you happy? The answer probably depends on what is happening in your life at the moment. If things are going smoothly, you're healthy, and you don't have any relationship issues, you might respond: "Yes, I am happy." The problem is that happiness is a fleeting emotion. When circumstances change for the worse, it quickly slips out the door. Unlike joy.
Although happiness and joy are often considered synonyms, they actually differ quite a bit. Happiness is temporary because it's based on external circumstances, but joy can be a constant state—something present no matter what happens in our lives. This is because joy is a result of God's presence within us. It is an inner state unaffected by life's difficulties.
David can say that his heart rejoices (Psalm 16:9) because he has found the key to living in a constant state of joy, despite problems. We can do the same. When we fix our eyes on the Lord (John 15:9-11), we can have peace and joy in our hearts, no matter what. The time spent with Him, His presence, and goodness in our lives are the foundations for having His complete joy in our hearts every day.
Link to the original article: https://www.intouchuk.org/read/daily-devotions/a-joyful-heart
* Bible quotes are from the Bible, new translation from the original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013