And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. While we may not face life-threatening persecutions in our daily lives, we are assaulted by negatives. How we react is a reflection of the joy we carry inside. As we allow our joy to grow in the knowledge of God's promise of eternal life to all who believe, it becomes easier to ignore negatives. Imagine how compelling the message of God's promises is when delivered by one who is joyful.
Happiness is circumstantial.
Joy is carried inside. God does not require that we be pleased with everything around us. But we do have the choice of how we react. When we react to people with love and circumstances with joy, all in the knowledge of God's love for us, we become effective witnesses of His power. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.