3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Happiness depends on the circumstances of our surroundings which are sometimes, if not often, out of our control. For example, “It is not raining today, I am happy”, “I am off work today, I am happy”, “my favorite team won today, I am happy”, and on and on it goes. Joy, on the other hand, is determined by what is inside us. You can have joy under any set of circumstances. It is storming outside, “I still have joy”, “I messed up at work today, “I still have Joy”, “my favorite team lost, “I still have joy.

Why am I full of Joy? I am begotten by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I have an incorruptible inheritance in Heaven. I am kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. I have trials for a season. I have faith which is tested and proven through the fire. I have faith in him who whom I have not seen. I have belief in Jesus Christ which brings me joy unspeakable and full of joy. The end of my faith is the salvation of my soul.

I pray you can see the difference.