When Happiness isn't Happening

Nehemiah 8:10 And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!” Joy is a powerful force. It changes the person who has it, and it changes others who are affected by someone full of joy. People often mistake happiness for joy, but happiness is tied to things that "happen" in our lives. Because of this, happiness often leaves as quickly as it comes. Joy, however isn't bound by happenings. That's why there are some poor people that are full of joy, and some rich people constantly longing for it. There are also rich people with joy, and poor people without it. Joy isn't found in a dollar, it's only found in God. Joy is one of the fruits of God's Holy Spirit, as described in Galatians 5:22. Because it is produced in us by God, we can have joy through the pleasures and pains of this life. In this passage, joy is proclaimed as a strength, and it certainly is. When things aren't happening to bring us happiness, we can still draw water out of the wells of salvation with joy (Isaiah 12:3)!