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If joy is deeper than happiness, does that mean happiness doesn’t matter?
And if joy comes from trusting God, is there still room for the simple happiness we all long for?

Ten years ago this week, I experienced one of those rare mountaintop moments.

My book reached #1 overall on Amazon.
Not just in a category—number one across the entire site.

The day felt surreal. When I was getting close to the top of the list, my oldest son jokingly said, “I’ll tell you what—if you get to number one, you can call me.”

I asked, “What if you’re sleeping?”

Without thinking much of it, he laughed and said, “Well, wake me up.”

Two days later, I did exactly that.

At about two in the morning.

I woke him up. I woke the whole house up.

And a few days later it happened again.

It wasn’t the greatest book in the world. It simply landed in the right place at the right time. But in that moment, it felt like standing on the top of a mountain.

Moments like that are special because they don’t happen very often.

And over the years I’ve come to realize something: if every day were a win, we wouldn’t appreciate the blessings nearly as much as we do.

Mountains wouldn’t feel so breathtaking if there weren’t valleys in between.

Mountaintop moments bring happiness.
Valleys teach us to anchor our joy in God instead of circumstances.

So yes—happiness matters.

Those moments of celebration, laughter, answered prayers, and unexpected blessings are gifts from God. Scripture is full of them—weddings, feasts, songs of praise, and hearts filled with gladness.

But happiness was never meant to carry the full weight of our lives.

Happiness rises and falls with circumstances.

Joy runs deeper.

Joy steadies the heart when life moves from the mountaintop back into the valley.

And even in the valleys, there is still room for happiness.

Not the kind that depends on everything going perfectly, but the quiet kind that notices small blessings along the way—the kindness of a friend, the beauty of a peaceful morning, the comfort of knowing God is still at work.

That’s why Paul writes,

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” — Philippians 4:4 (NIV)

Notice where that joy is anchored.

Not in a perfect week.
Not in favorable circumstances.
Not in a long list of wins.

Paul says to rejoice in the Lord.

And when our joy is rooted there, something beautiful happens.

We don’t spend our lives chasing mountaintop moments.

Instead, we begin to recognize God’s goodness in ordinary days—the quiet evidence of His grace carrying us through the valleys between the mountains.

This Week’s Printable

Here is this week’s printable. Click the image to view and print a higher resolution.