Happy vs. Rejoice

Have you noticed that the Bible does not command us to be happy but does command us to rejoice? When I searched both words in the King James Version of the Bible, I discovered that the word “happy” was used 25 times while the word “rejoice” was used 240. It seems to me that God puts a far higher premium on our rejoicing than our being happy. But the question is, Why?

Maybe the reason can be found in the definition of each word. The root word of the adjective “happy” is the word “hap”. This word is defined as, “one’s luck or lot, an occurrence, happening, or accident”. However, the root word of the word “rejoice” is “re” + “gaudium” which is a verb that means “Go back to your source of delight (satisfaction), again and again.” The word “Happy” is an adjective, while “Rejoice” is a verb. Now most of us have learned that an adjective is a word that describes or identifies a noun (a person, place, or thing). Thus, happy is not an action. It is simply an identifier, a description, a result. Therefore, if you are happy now, it just so happened that you are described as being lucky at that moment ,though it was an accident. And that also means you could be identified as unhappy tomorrow.

But the word “Rejoice” is a verb, which reflects an action, an exercise, movement, something one does. Happy seems passive. Happy connotes waiting for something to occur that will bring one into a certain place of satisfaction, such as a better job, a romantic relationship, a sunny day, a great sale on a desired item. Rejoice speaks to something that is very active. Rejoice speaks to something I can have control over. Thus, if my source of satisfaction is running, I can go back to running again and again.

However, the Bible commands us to “Rejoice in the Lord”; to go back to our source of delight (satisfaction). That source is: The Lord. Psalm 37:4 tells us, “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Wow! If we keep going back to make the Lord our source of satisfaction again and again, He will give us the desires of our heart.

So which will you choose? Will you choose to wait for some “person (romantic love of your life), place (fantasy vacation) or thing (scholarship, new car, new house, new job) to hap-pen that will in turn bring satisfaction in your life? Or will you, of your own choice, control, and decision keep going back to your source of satisfaction, which can always be found in the Lord who never changes no matter what our circumstances are (Malachi 3:6)? I think I already know the answer, but I do invite your thoughts.