TRUE JOY
Cathedral Newsletter – 31 December 2025
Photo by Preslie Hirsch on Unsplash
By Abby Vanmidde, Gradutating student of Moore Theological College, Cathedral Student Minister 2025.
“Do what makes you happy.” “I just want my kids to be happy” “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Our culture desperately searches for happiness and prizes it above everything else.
In contrast, Christians are all about joy-spiritual joy. The Psalmist declares, “[A]t his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy: I will sing and make music to the LORD” (Ps 27:6). Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil 44).
But where does happiness fit in Christianity? What does it have to do with spiritual joy? Many Christians struggle to define spiritual joy, but they would confidently assert that joy is not happiness. Joy and happiness are fundamentally distinct: joy is a deep, consistent confidence in God amid changing circumstances, whereas the happiness offered by the world is light and wavering
I disagree. I don't think joy is less than happiness; rather, happiness is an essential ingredient as we define joy. If we separate the two and remove happiness from joy, we undersell joy, as if happiness has nothing to do with it.
Those who say that joy and happiness are not the same have a compelling argument. Firstly, they do not see joy as a necessarily positive feeling, Happiness is: it makes us smile, clap. laugh or dance. But joy does not always have the positivity of happiness. Is that not what Paul is saying in 2 Corinthians 6:10 when he describes himself as “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing”? If he feels such sorrow, surely the joy he describes cannot be happiness, but rather a sure confidence and hope in God.
Secondly, they think that joy is constant in the Christian life. Happiness changes based on our situation and experiences, whereas joy does not. waver. As Paul says in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (emphasis mine). No matter our circumstances, we can experience joy
Thirdly, joy is not shallow or vapid. Happiness can be we tend to think the fancy restaurant meal, the upgraded phone and the better physique will make us happy-and sometimes they do. But they certainly cannot bring us joy, because joy is more substantial.
So because many Christians think that joy is not always a positive feeling (but happiness is), joy is constant (but happiness fluctuates), and joy is not shallow (but happiness can be), people tend to view joy and happiness as being mutually exclusive.
I disagree: I would argue that happiness is a core part of spiritual joy. In fact, joy is true and lasting happiness rooted in heavenly realities.
Firstly, joy, like happiness, is also a positive feeling. Remove the positive and it is no longer joy. Like happiness, joy can also make us smile. clap, laugh or dance. In Scripture, joy causes people to leap (Luke 6:23), sing (Ps 98:4-9), shout (Ps 20:5) and play musical instruments (1 Chron 15:16). Sometimes the Greek word commonly translated “joy” is translated “glad”!
Likewise, the Hebrew word for joy is used in parallel with “happiness” (Jer 31:13; Prov 23:25; Ps 92:4, 32:11).
Indeed, when Paul writes that he is “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Cor 6:10), he’s not undermining the idea that joy is positive; he’s supporting it. He uses the positive element of joy to show that Christians can feel two seemingly opposite emotions simultaneously. Even when we feel heart-wrenching sadness, we can also experience happiness. We can be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing… Read on here for the rest of Abby’s article! (And then browse for more news from Moore College, including more on joy from Canon Dr Mark Thompson.)
Warmly in Christ,
Sandy Grant
Dean of Sydney
P.S. May God bless you for the New Year. I am currently on a week’s holiday with family… this was prepared in advance!
If you have never read the Bible, or even just the New Testament all the way through, can I encourage you to make 2026 the year you have a go. And if you have fallen out of the habit can I also encourage you to get back into the habit! Nathan Bingham has helpfully published several Bible reading programs for 2026 that range from easier to more demanding. I recommend trying the ‘5x5x5 New Testament Bible Reading Plan’, or ‘Five-Day Bible Reading Program’ (entire Bible), or use the ‘Bible Reading Chart’ (go at your own pace, but keep track!)