And we should be careful not to confuse temporary, external circumstance, happiness with eternal, internal, joy that reveals which gods we worship in life. We were created to be forever joyful, not forever happy.
Circumstances may contribute to happiness, but joy is a mindset.
Perhaps that is the elusive lesson of the story in the book of Job. The use of hyperbole always makes an impression and this story may be just that regarding things of this life that bring happiness. We live in a broken world where suffering is not always a penalty for wrongdoing and prosperity is not always a reward for goodness. The rain falls on all fields. But as long as we keep the good things of this world in perspective that bring us happiness and recognize that they are only a heartbeat away from being lost, we won’t miss out on the joy that can sustain us.
“What is happiness?
It’s the moment before we need more happiness.”
—Don Draper, Mad Men
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