Contentment & Joy Versus Happiness

Most of the time, happiness, contentment, and joy are counted as synonymous. However, even though all three are related to positive emotions, there is a great difference in meaning, and each carries a unique application. So, in order to approach their application, we need to understand the meaning of each:

The Meaning of Happiness

Happiness is related to experiencing pleasure. It is determined by happenstance. If your happenstance is good, it produces a state of temporary happiness until circumstances change for the worse, and then it becomes unhappiness. Happiness is a result of many different experiences, such as relationships, goals being met, achievements, or experiences. For instance, if you are walking down the street and suddenly you experience finding a twenty-dollar bill, it makes you happy. On the other hand, discovering that you have lost twenty dollars makes you unhappy. The best way to define happiness is that happiness denotes an emotional state that is short-term, constantly changing, and subject to the individual. Happiness is subjective in the sense that each individual sees happiness in different ways. What makes one person happy may be the opposite for another person.

The Meaning of Contentment

The primary difference between contentment and happiness is that contentment is internal and happiness is external. Whereas happiness is temporal and short in duration, contentment is long-term and more of a way of life; although contentment can lead to happiness, it is not determined by happiness. The Apostle Paul of the New Testament said, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Philippians 4:11-12). According to Paul, contentment is learning to be satisfied with your life situation, accepting whatever condition you find yourself in, and not being influenced by any external forces. If a person does not learn to be content, they can only experience short-term happiness, which constantly depends on external circumstances. Below are some of the ways happiness differs from contentment:

• Contentment is internal and separate from external experiences. Whereas happiness is influenced by external experiences.
• Contentment is static and a result of determination, while happiness is determined by happenstance. and is temporal.
• Contentment is a lifestyle determined by an internal commitment, and happiness is based on experiences.
• Contentment is subjective, and happiness is objective.
• Contentment includes an attitude of calmness that continues, whereas Happiness does not.
• Contentment is long-term, whereas happiness is only short-term and fades away quickly.  
• Contentment can be present along with happiness because contentment causes happiness, but a person can experience happiness and still not be content and have discontentment with life.

The Meaning of Joy

The Definition of True Biblical Joy: Biblical joy is responding to external circumstances and experiences with inner contentment and satisfaction, knowing that God uses experiences of life to accomplish His work in and through us.

The Bible explains Joy: God is the source of true joy. The Bibles list joy as one of the Characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit. The Bible teaches that we are to walk in the Spirit, live in the Spirit, and produce the fruit of the Spirit. The Bible lists the fruits of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Joy is from the Lord: It is true that only God can supply true joy. God gives us the ability to respond to life’s difficult circumstances with inner contentment and satisfaction: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13). Only God can produce true joy. He does that through the Holy Spirit, who indwells those who have placed their trust in Jesus. It is also important for us to understand that only when we are walking in the Spirit and committed to His control of our life can we expect the fullness of God’s joy. The Bible commands us to “live in the Spirit” and “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16 and 25).

God’s joy is experienced even in times of trials: However, it is up to us to choose to respond to life’s trials with joy when we understand that God has a purpose for those times. James of the New Testament said, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2).

“Count” is the key to understanding what James means. “Count” means to test the trial to see how God may use it to accomplish His will. Keep in mind that everything that comes into a believer’s life passes through God first. When we truly believe that and choose God’s joy, we can go through life calmly without all the stress and anxiety.