The often used phrase, “laughter is a good medicine” came up in conversation with some friends the other day. Have you ever said it? I have. I know many who misquote this scripture because we simply don’t understand that there is a difference between happiness and joy.

I’m not here to have Bible study, but the purpose of TBOG is to find wholeness through the truth of the living Word. The scripture actually says that a merry heart does good like a medicine. There is a difference between laughter and a merry heart.

When do you laugh? When you hear a good joke, when something funny happens to someone around you, when something externally happens to provoke that emotion? BINGO!!! Happiness is something caused by external circumstances. When something good happens to you, then you are happy. I’ve heard it said that money can’t buy happiness. Actually, it can. It can alter your surroundings and make you happy. However, it cannot bring joy.

Now let’s take a look at a merry heart. What causes a merry heart? Where does joy come from? I believe that these two are the same thing. A merry heart is joy and joy is based on internal peace. It’s a state of being and not a reaction to circumstance. It’s the result of a life that is totally at rest with your Creator.

The Bible talks about the joy of the Lord being our strength. The Lord’s joy cannot be taken away from you. It can be given away, but that is your choice. So many people are dependent on happiness. Since happiness is based on your surroundings, it can change instantly. In contrast, joy is not based on those around you and comes solely from Him. Therefore it cannot change because He cannot change.

Think about it this way. If you feel like you are constantly on a roller coaster of emotions and you are happy one day and sad the other and happy again the next, then you are probably not walking in the joy of the Lord. I’m not saying that those who have a merry heart are never sad. Those who are joyful are subject to the same external criteria as everyone else. Where are your thoughts tho? Do you stay there? Are you in a repetitive cycle of happy and sad?

I want to encourage you to get into the Word and find who you are in Christ.  This is where you will find your joy. Be established in Him and you will not be moved. In a couple days, I am going to post something that the Holy Spirit gave me a couple months ago. It is my declaration (and yours too) that this joy is yours. Watch for it!

You will make known to me that path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Psalm 16:11