When I think of the word “joy” it’s hard not to associate it with being happy. Yes, they are connected, joy and happiness, but they are not always synonymous with one another.  For instance, we can have joy and be in mourning. We can have joy and be in pain. We can have joy in the midst of oppression and injustice.  Yes, joy does mean gladness, but it’s the source of gladness that most truly defines joy. For example, a boss who mistreats you can make you glad when they hand you a bonus check. But that’s not joy. That’s a temporary feeling that is dependent on man, and once the money is spent, that temporary joy is gone.

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