Forbes Magazine wrote an article a few years ago about unhappy habits. In other words, things we do that we believe will make us happy but actually do not make us happy. Things like: waiting on the future, acquiring stuff, avoiding people and staying home, complaining and seeing yourself as a victim.
The whisper we hear from the enemy, Satan, is that you deserve to be happy. And that is a ubiquitous theme throughout our American culture. But if you make happiness the central point of your life, you’ll notice it’s always an arm length away. It will always allude you.
So, you’re telling me God doesn’t want me to be happy? Somehow, my desire to be happy gets morphed into “God wants me to be happy.” What I think will make me happy somehow becomes what God wants. God is a loving father and his desire is for his children to experience joy in their life. The issue is we take what culture says will make us happy and assume that’s God’s version of our happiness.
You see, culture tells us the pursuit of pleasure will bring us happiness. When you read through the book of Ecclesiastes, written by King Solomon, we find that chasing all the money, all the fame, all the sex, all the relationships and the fortune this life can offer is like chasing the wind. Solomon, who did all that, says it’s meaningless.
God tells us pursuing holiness is what will bring you happiness. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 1:1-3, “Happy is the person who doesn’t follow the world but delights in mediating on God and His ways” (paraphrased). God defines happiness different than culture.
But the world goes on to say happiness is based on your circumstances or what’s happening around you. You look at any commercial on TV or social media. Every one of them are saying you’d be happier if you buy this product or act this way or have this lifestyle. 2024 Gallup Poll measured the happiness of countries around the world. America came in at #23. With all we have in America, 22 countries are happier than we are.
It’s a reminder that happiness is based on Christ. Paul knew this as he states in Philippians 4:11-12. He was happy or joyful in any circumstance because it didn’t matter what was going on in life as long as he was connected to Jesus. And he wrote that from a prison cell. See, happiness is based on happenings; joy is based on Jesus.
Culture says our happiness is based on comparisons. All of us look at social media. And all of us post only the best pics on media. As we scroll through those, we see we aren’t as pretty or fit or popular or fun. So we try to do more and keep up with the Joneses.
But God says our happiness is fueled by gratitude. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in every situation…” Our demeanor as a believer is to find the things that are praiseworthy and focus on the life we have in Christ. It doesn’t mean we will always have smiles and life will always be a bowl of cherries. But it does mean our focus is on Jesus and what He’s done for us.
Finally, culture tells us life is about you, look out for #1, I’m in it for me. Currently, we live in an incredibly entitled culture. “I have everything coming to me and I’m going to get it no matter the cost.” That’s how our culture thinks. Everyone exclaims they have rights and are owed something. Even if I have to step on you to get, I’m going to claim what’s mine.
But God says happiness is actually when you focus on others and live as second. When we decide to humble ourselves is when we actually find joy. It’s when we find the peace in life we truly want. Serving others will ultimately bring you happiness. Try it and see if this doesn’t change your spirit.
Jesus said in Matthew 10:39, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” As believers, we want to imitate Jesus. He served others and laid down his life for us. If we are truly disciples, we’ll have the same mindset. Happiness is found in Jesus. Follow him closely. Do what He did. Blessings on the journey.