Happiness | His Glory My Joy, a blog of Author Luana Ehrlich

It’s a Joy Thing

July 23, 2025 Leave a comment

Whether you spend time reading the Bible on a daily basis, or you’re only familiar with it from hearing a minister preach from the Bible, you can’t miss the fact that joy is one of the predominate themes in the Bible.

Depending on which Bible translation you’re using, there are over 200 verses that talk about experiencing joy, which I would define as a deep sense of well-being that comes from knowing Christ through the presence of his Holy Spirit.

Joy isn’t happiness, which is a temporary emotion based on outward circumstances which brings pleasure or satisfaction for a short length of time and can easily disappear when a situation changes.

Instead, joy is rock solid, permanent, anchored in the unchanging nature and promises of God and expresses itself outwardly through our prayers and praises to Him.

Here are a few instances of what the Bible says about how we experience joy:

Joy is found in God’s presence

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11.

Joy is found in believing God

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13.

Joy is found in worshiping God

“Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.” Psalm 33:1.

Joy is found in hearing the words of God.

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11.

This deep, abiding joy is exclusively given to those who are believers in Christ, who have trusted His death on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice to pay for their sins, and who are anticipating spending an eternity basking in the light of His glorious beauty.

“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 51:11

Categories: Believe, Certainty, Devotionals, Faith, Glorifying God, God's Presence, Happiness, Praise, Theology, Trust Tags: Faith, Happiness, joy, Praise, Rejoice, Trust God

Let’s Talk Happiness

January 26, 2024 Leave a comment

It’s been a cold, rainy week in Oklahoma. Not much sunshine. I’m not a person who gets depressed, and I really like some rainy days every now and then, but I’ve been longing for sunshine for two days now. People seem to be happier when the sun is shining.

As I thought about what makes people happy, I came across a devotional that references mankind’s universal search for happiness.

In the article, a book by C. S. Lewis called Mere Christianity is referenced. Here are two quotes from it that I believe give clarity and substance to the idea of happiness.

“All that we call human history–money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery–is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.”

“God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” –C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

A bright cloudless day can’t really make a person happy. Only God can do that.

Turn your face toward the Son. Bask in the warmth and happiness of His Light today.

“You make known to me the path of life, in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11.

Categories: Call To God, Christian Living, Devotionals, Faith, God's Presence, Happiness, Hope, Light, Trust, Truth Tags: Bible, C. S. Lewis, christianity, Faith, God, God's love, Happiness, Praise, Search for Happiness, Sunshine, What Makes A Person Happy

Finding Happiness

May 3, 2016 Leave a comment

stay away 2 As I enjoyed an early morning quiet time on my patio recently, I became captivated by the play of light and dark, shadow and sunlight, across the foliage of my backyard. I had just been reading a devotional about mankind’s universal search for happiness. In the article, C. S. Lewis’ classic, Mere Christianity, is referenced, particularly this quote, “All that we call human history–money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery–is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.”

After reading this quote, I glanced up from my iPad and saw the patterns the early morning sun was drawing in my garden. Some flowers were in shadow, while others were in sunlight. The flowers highlighted by the sunlight looked “happier” than those flowers residing in the shadows. Why was that? Well, obviously, it was because the “happier” flowers were basking in the sun’s light, while those in the shadow were not receiving the sun’s full benefits..

Although I’m quite certain flowers do not experience human emotions, my garden’s shadows and sunlight illustrated the truth of my devotional reading. We all seek happiness, but as long as we remain in the shadows–substituting other people, pleasures, and pursuits for God in our lives–we will never be truly happy.

“You make known to me the path of life, in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11.

Turn your face toward the Son. Bask in the warmth of His Light today.

Categories: Abounding, Christian Living, Creator, Faith, Happiness, Hope, Personal, Worship Tags: Faith, Garden, God's love, Happiness, Happy, Light, Quiet Time, Shadows

How To Be The Happiest Person On Earth

February 1, 2016 Leave a comment

Happy 2 All of us have a desire to be happy, but happiness can mean different things to different people.

Some equate being happy with having pleasure, but, while having pleasurable moments can certainly add to an overall feeling of happiness, pursuing pleasure as a way of achieving happiness will ultimately fail. Just ask anyone who’s tried it, from the adulterer to the drug addict. Their stories, so full of heartache, sorrow, and loss, never paint a picture of happiness.

If having pleasure isn’t an adequate definition of happiness, then what is? Christian theologian, R. C. Sproul, in a recent blog article, defined happiness as “the state of inner delight, blessedness, and contentment.”

I would agree with this definition because I believe true happiness can only be found in the presence of God, and this is where we find our delight, feel most blessed, and know contentment.

Psalm 4:7 “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.”

Psalm 16:11 “You have made known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

How can you be the happiest person on earth? Instead of pursuing pleasure, pursue His presence.