There is a very famous story where Saint Francis of Assisi asks the question and answers himself what the ‘perfect joy’ is. Although I have heard and spoken about all that, although Jesus spoke repeatedly about joy in his high-priestly prayer in the Gospel of John, it was when some years ago our Br. Bobby Kattikkad spoke about the difference between joy and happiness in a TV Talk, that I realized that they are two different things.

People generally talk about happiness. Their main interest is in happiness. However, the Bible speaks about happiness only on few occasions. At the same time, the Bible speaks about joy more than 200 times. (I realize that there may be variations in different translations). We experience happiness in anything that we think is good for us. If we listen to our favorite songs, watch a good movie or enjoy good literature, eat delicious food, if people look at us with respect, wear elegant and fitting clothes, if we have comforts, if we have financial gains, if we or our loved ones have good success, we will be happy. That is how it is. In short, happiness is based on external factors. Just that the grandeur of reasons for happiness may differ depending on one’s social status and financial capability. Because it is based on external factors, one may not always have happiness.

As mentioned earlier, the Bible mostly speaks about joy. Joy is a spiritual reality. While happiness is based on external factors, joy is based on spiritual factors. If I am convinced that God loves, protects, and cares for me, it is the inner joy we experience from that faith which rises above all, no matter what failures, humiliations, and brokenness there may be.

Even when there are great destructions, losses, and deaths, one believes that the Lord has a plan, and He is in control of everything; and that gives us confidence and trust.

Even when those who loved me leave me one by one, if I know that I still have love in me, then nothing can affect my heart.

No matter who abandons me, I am dear to Him. I have assurance that He will come looking for Me.

In short, faith, hope, and love: these are what give us inner joy.

When we sing Psalm 23 with the Psalmist, we experience it: faith, power, trust, hope, and joy.

When we read the book of Job, we experience the same with Job: faith, strength, trust, hope, and joy.

We experience it when we read the prophet Habakkuk, who sings from his heart, “Though the fig tree blossoms not, and the vine does not yield fruit, the olive fails, the fields wither, and the flocks are gone, yet I will rejoice in the Lord,” we experience it: faith, power, trust, hope, and joy.

We experience the same thing when we read of Paul and Silas singing hymns in the prison even after being stripped of their clothes and beaten severely: faith, power, trust, hope, and joy!

When everything that is external is gone and there's total emptiness, what remains is God. Is it for nothing that Paul repeatedly asks is to “Rejoice - In the Lord”?!