1 Timothy 6:6
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."

I love how this verse says that we will be content with such things, rather than happy. Being content and being happy are two totally different things. When we are content with something, we are satisfied. I looked up the definition of content, and this is what it says :

Content--"Satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else."

I love how it says that when we are content--satisfied--we aren't wanting anything else. Happiness is more of an emotion - joy is an attitude.We are filled more with joy through the Spirit rather than happiness, and that is why we can "consider it pure joy when we go through trials of many kinds."
Also, note the fruits of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

See? It says nothing about being happy, but having joy. You look at storeis of people in the Bible, and I don't think it it ever talks about them being happy, but filled with joy instead, and being content. ( I could be totally wrong though, let me know if I am...)
Having joy without the Spirit doesn't work. I don't think we can really experience true joy without the Holy Spirit working in us. I think the difference between having joy and being happy, is that happiness is an emotion - a state of mind - that comes and goes. Some days you will be happy, others you won't. With joy, joy through the Spirit that is, we are constantly being filled with that joy, and reminded that we are content with what we have.

Jesus fills us up. He satisfifes. The definition of satisfy is thus:

"Satisfy--To fulfill the desires, expectations, needs, or demands of ; to make content, to put an end to a desire, want, or need ect.."

That is the very definition of what God is to us ; He satisfies us, makes us want for nothing else, puts an end to our selfish desires, makes us complete. Jesus is that and so much more. When God is near, we want nothing more, the world fades away, we die to self, and we are content.
We can't be satisified without contentment, and we can't be content without joy.

John 15:11
"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made complete."





With joy,
Moriah