Peace, Joy, and Happiness

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Have you noticed some people seem happier or more at peace than others, even in tough times? Christians are reminded to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4), but it can be hard to feel joyful when life is difficult. If you’re struggling to find happiness right now, you’re not alone—just hold on.

First, let’s start with the definitions of each word to bring a better understanding.

Happy/Happiness

Happiness refers to feeling pleasure and contentment, but it’s a temporary emotional state shaped by daily circumstances.  Feeling happy is a mood, which is part of your emotions.  If the circumstances change, then your happiness can change.  Happiness is often linked to relationships, achievements and events.  Being with a person can make you feel happy.  Accomplishing a big goal can make you feel happy.  But when the conditions change, if a person says the wrong things or does the wrong things, those events can make you feel unhappy.  Or how about not completing your goal or finishing a task.  Or even failure when you start a task can cause unhappiness.   All these events are circumstantial and temporary.  They are linked to your emotions which change based on surrounding events or your thought patterns.  Everyone wants to be happy. But we all struggle to stay happy.

God doesn’t tell you pursue happiness.  Happiness is the result of something that you pursue or do.  The Bible talks about happiness as a result from your obedience in following God’s Word.

• Psalm 144:15: “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!”
  • When you make God your Lord, putting Him first, THEN you will be happy.
• Proverbs 3:13: “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding”.
  • You are happy AFTER you find wisdom and understanding.

Jesus shares a list of attitudes of being (called the Beatitudes) explaining the state of happiness from the results of your action.   The word Blessed means Happy. (See Matthew 5:3-10) E.g., “Blessed (Happy) are the poor in spirit (those who are humble and realize their need for Him).”

God wants you to pursue Him, His attributes, His character, and obey His Word, and the results will be your happiness.

Joy

Joy is a deep-inner state of spiritual contentment and satisfaction based on your relationship with God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ.  Did you know that Joy is a command from God?

• Philippians 4:4 (NKJV) “Rejoice in the Lord always, Again I will say, rejoice!”

“Rejoice” contains the root “joy,” so Philippians 4:4 (NLT) can be read as, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice!”

When you pursue God, and when you are in His presence, you will find Joy.  Only God can give you pure joy.  Humans will look for joy and happiness in things, e.g., riches, fame, fortune, illegal drugs, sex, etc. but joy isn’t there.  How many famous people do you know who have had everything, yet they committed suicide due to depression and unhappiness.  (By the way, depression is a condition, and if you are suffering from this condition, then get help.  But get help from trained individuals (medically and professionally) who know God, who knows scripture, and who can pray for you.  The Bible is clear on calling on God for help and going to others for help. Remember there is no problem that God cannot solve.  Psalm 30:11,12 God can turn your mourning and depression into dancing.) People don’t realize that God purposely created us with a certain emptiness that is reserved ONLY for Him.

• Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV) “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in their hearts…”

God is eternal, and He has purposely reserved a place in our spirits for Him.  We search for happiness everywhere and wonder why we still feel empty inside.  That is because those “things” were not designed to satisfy your spirit.  King Solomon, the wealthiest man who ever lived on this earth had EVERYTHING.  He was essentially a Trillionaire and had people at his fingertips.  But he wrote an entire chapter in the book of Ecclesiastes regarding the futility of pursuing pleasure without God.  (See Ecclesiastes 2) The Bible is very clear on where you will find joy.

• Psalm 16:11 (NKJV) “… in your presence is the fullness of joy.”

Let me say it in a different way, God’s presence is where you will find joy that will NEVER run out!  Never!  Why do we constantly run to other things seeking joy and pleasure, only to find they are temporary?  Because we are humans living in a body that is tangible.  We are used to what we can see, hear, touch, taste, and smell.  Our bodies have these five senses, and we use them to stimulate and create emotional satisfaction (happiness).  We forget that everything that is tangible on this earth is temporary.  Only God is eternal.  Yes, I know it is hard to run to God when you can’t sense Him with your five senses.  Your senses were never designed to detect God because God is spiritual.  Being in God presence connects your spirit to God’s Spirit.  God will flood your spirit with Joy and Peace, and the result of being his presence is happiness.

God’s Joy gives you spiritual strength.

• Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV) “…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

For context, Nehemiah, along with other Jewish men, just finished rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem that was previously destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar.  All the Hebrews were banished into captivity.  But now that the city of Jerusalem was rebuilt, the Hebrews returned.  Nehimiah decided to take count (census) and register the Hebrew people.  At the end of the census, Ezra (who was a Priest) took the Book of the Law and read it before the people.  All the people listened, lifted their hands, then bowed and began worshiping the Lord.  (Nehemiah 8:6).  The event was so intense that the people began to weep and mourn but shouted out to the people to go and celebrate with a feast.  Don’t be sad, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.   In the midst of your sadness or weakness, God’s joy will strengthen your spirit.

Peace

Peace is defined as an inner state of total well-being, wholeness, and harmony.  This is when turmoil surrounds you, you are not emotionally shaken, moved, or react from panic.  The Hebrew word for Peace is Shalom, which means completeness, soundness, and prosperity in all aspects of your life.  Peace will carry you through a storm when everything looks bad.  Remember Jesus was sleeping in the boat in the middle of the storm and the disciples were bailing out the water with buckets in a panic.  The disciples were not happy.  But Jesus had Peace.  In fact, what did Jesus say to the storm after he woke up?

• Mark 4:39 (NKJV) “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”

There is Power in Peace!  Let me say that again, the power is in the Peace! 

God never wants you to pursue happiness alone because that is acting selfishly.  Pursing Him results in peace.   Doing these things opens the door to God’s Peace:

Philippians 4:2 – 6

1. Settle your disagreements with others
2. Always be full of joy in the Lord
3. Always rejoice
4. Remember the Lord is coming soon
5. Don’t worry about anything
6. Pray about everything
7. Tell God what you need
8. Thank Him (God) for all He has done

When you do these things, God’s peace will exceed anything you can ever understand. God’s peace will guard your heart (spirit), and God’s peace will guard (protect and prevent hostile invasion) your mind as you live in Christ Jesus.

Finally, Joy and Peace are a spiritual fruit that grows within.

• Galatians 5:22, 23 (NKJV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

The scripture states that the fruit of the Spirit does not include happiness; rather, happiness stems (is a product) from joy and peace. Pursuing God leads to spiritual growth and the development of these fruits within you.

Jesus was very clear about recognizing who is who in this world.  Matthew 7:16 (NKJV) “You will know them by their fruit.”  When you talk to people, are you speaking to them in love?  I.e., looking out for their well-being? Do you have inner joy, inner peace? Do you have long suffering (also known as patience)? Are you kind and good towards others? And do you have self-control, or do you have a hair trigger temper?  If you are struggling in these areas, then that is the problem.  YOU are trying to do these things on your own instead of letting God’s Peace dwell within you.  The fruits of the Spirit grows from within through God’s help.  You don’t have to be fake.  It will come naturally IF you truly want to be led by God.   Here is a simple prayer to help:

Father God, I can’t do this on my own.  I want to be happy, but I have selfishly pursued happiness without pursuing you first.  I humbly submit myself to you and ask that you guide me in the path of righteousness.  I give all my worries, all my care, all my anxieties to you.  I want YOUR Joy and Peace.  I thank you and receive your Peace in Jesus name!  Amen

I will end this message with this:

Numbers 6:24-26 (NKJV)

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”

Shalom!  And Be blessed!

Ron

Ron Cobbs Ministries © Copyright February 14th, 2026, All Rights Reserved