By Linda Tancs
Happiness and contentment are frequently treated as the same thing, like simply a matter of word choice. But nothing could be further from the truth. Contentment is a condition of the soul; happiness is conditioned on circumstances. The apostle Paul is a great illustration of the difference. Do you think that his series of hardships (2 Corinthians 11:23-33) were a source of happiness? Indeed not. But he said that he learned to be content in all circumstances (Philippians 4:11). How did he do it? By focusing on Christ rather than his circumstances (Philippians 1:12). Circumstantial happiness will never bring true contentment, but contentment will bring a kind of joy that only the Spirit can produce.
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