Joy or Happiness?

I have had so many things bring me happiness throughout my life, and several things that brought me great joy. It amazes to this day that I can still mistake one for the other. I was reminded of that as we were in the process of trying to decide on a house this weekend. We've been living in an apartment for the last 7 months, and it's been wonderful! Our friends don't believe us. It is kind of hard to imagine being happy in a one thousand square foot apartment after living in a four thousand square foot dream home, but we are. I've taken the whole "be content in whatever circumstances" thing to heart these last few months. Anyway, we found a house after just looking around one day. It was perfect floor plan, the perfect area, the perfect yard, the perfect kitchen....perfect. Have I said how "perfect" it was? I was giddy. So was my husband (as much as man can be anyway). Yet, as we drew closer to having to make a final decision, we couldn't get comfortable. We didn't have peace about it. Yes the economy is sagging and yes, we're never sure about the future, but that wasn't it. We kept trying to convince ourselves we this was right - it was the "perfect" house for crying out loud! How were we going to find a house like this again? Then my husband reminded me that the house wasn't going to make us happy. I knew this, of course, after living in our last house, but it still set me back when he said it. I was, even after having our "dream home" and it not fulfilling me, looking at that house thinking this time was going to be different. Our houses can be vessels for the things that bring us joy - but the house itself is not. I have learned after living in this apartment, that it doesn't matter what my house looks like - whether I have granite on the counter tops or stainless steel appliances in my kitchen; whether my yard is large and full of trees and my neighbors are all loving and helpful. No, what matters is following the Lord's will. Can the Lord grant me all of those things - of course! But will they fulfill me? No. Not one bit. Does God really care what house we live in? I don't think so. He cares about our character. He cares about our obedience. We have turned down the chance to buy the house. For whatever reason, we don't have peace about that house right now. That peace is what brings me the most joy. Going against that peace is like swimming against the current. You will work and work and work and never get it. You can't buy this peace, food won't bring you this peace. Only God can grant this peace. His peace is guiding us right now. He knows the future and I trust him. I trust that he will guide is each day. That's my joy.