Joy can’t be stolen, but happiness can

Nov. 15, 2007

“Joy cannot be stolen from you. Happiness can be stolen from you. There is a huge difference between the two,” said Justin Wetering.

Wetering was talking to members of the ecumenical youth group that meets every other Thursday in the Presbyterian Family Center.

Wetering and the youth talked about how joy is connected with our eternal life, and how happiness is related to our life on earth. Happiness, then, is temporary in nature, while joy is possible even though happiness with a particular situation may not be present.

“I struggle, like all of you struggle,” Wetering said. “But in the book of John, we read, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches.’ That’s Jesus talking,” Wetering said, “and He goes on to say, ‘Apart from me, you can do nothing.’”

The group talked about various passages in the Bible and Wetering urged the young people to make regular Bible study a part of their lives. He said concordances or specialized Bibles, anything that helps the reader interpret Scripture, are useful.

He also encouraged the group to listen to Christian music. “Music that honors God is so powerful,” Wetering said.

The group played some games before their Bible discussion session to help get the evening off to a lighthearted start.

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