The Difference Between Happiness and Joy

“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

I’ve been thinking about that hymn lately and am not quite sure about that little ditty of a chorus. The other words to the hymn are great though. OK, I trust in God. I obey His Word. I’m enfolded in Jesus’ love. But “happy” in Jesus? Not always.

There are 658,000 responses on Google about the Biblical difference between happiness and joy. I didn’t read all of them but the answer seems to be … Happiness is instigated by an external source and Joy is instigated by an internal source. Happy/ about 30 times in the Bible. Joy/ over 300 times in the Bible. It seems that God would rather us seek joy than depend on happiness to just show up.

 A testimony at a Dwight L. Moody evangelistic meeting was the impetus for the song. The story goes that a young man who had just been converted stood and said, “I’m not quite sure. But I’m going to trust and I’m going to obey.” John Sammis took those words as an inspiration for the song.

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we'll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

It seems to me that this song is more about Joyful in Jesus than Happy in Jesus. But I wasn’t around in 1887 to give my input so I’ll just sing it as it is and whisper to myself “joyful”.

Galatians 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

The main thing is to Trust and Obey joyfully, even when we are not quite sure.