Not too long ago my husband and I, along with our small group, watched a video about marriage. The speaker started his talk by mentioning some of the little things that can make marriage frustrating, and as he transitioned into the bigger message, he offered the audience what I think he intended to be comforting and reassuring:
“God wants you to be happy,” he said.
Every single one of us turned our eyes from the TV screen to each other. To be honest, every single one of us looked a little confused. We eventually turned our attention back to the video, but after it was over and we settled into our discussion time, the question came up: “So. Does God really want us to be happy?”
Because here’s a news flash: there’s not a single instance in Scripture where God mentions that He has prioritized our happiness or that our happiness is the primary point of a life surrendered to Christ.
In fact, that’s a place where we can get really tangled up when it comes to living a life of faith. We tell ourselves that God wants us to be happy, and our quest for happiness can lead us to make some short-term, rash, selfish decisions that ripple in ways we never intended.
And sorry, by the way, if that sounds a little doom and gloom. But I guess what I’m trying to say is that happiness is mostly a by-product of stuff that’s temporary, and God never indicates that it should be our highest aim. Happiness is when you get a 40-percent-off coupon for your favorite cosmetics brand. Happiness is when you’ve had a long day at school and you get home and your mama has cooked your favorite meal. Happiness is when you’re with two of your closest friends and you laugh so hard you can’t speak. All of those things are wonderful and enjoyable, for sure.
But God has so much more for us than mere happiness. Here’s a list just for starters.
- He enables us to be joyful at all times. (Philippians 4:4)
- He gives us peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7)
- He teaches us to be content in any circumstances. (Philippians 4:12)
- He compels us to be faithful with our whole lives. (Revelation 2:10)
- He calls us to be holy because He is holy. (1 Peter 1:15)
We live in a world with a subjective view of truth, and with that comes a mentality that our happiness is paramount. I hope you’ll hear my heart when I tell you that that’s a load of lies. A life focused primarily on personal happiness can result in a selfishly shallow existence that is far too dependent on circumstances.
However, a life focused on the joy of the Lord and the gifts of the Spirit can lead to a God-centered, meaningful existence that is rooted in unchanging Truth.
Don’t settle for chasing happy. God has so much more in store for you.
1. To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with happiness. Heavens, no. It’s just more dependent on circumstances than joy is. So given that, what are some temporary things that do bring you happiness? (And yes, it is totally fine if some form of ice cream is one of your answers.)
2. Now that you’ve thought about what makes you happy, think about what brings you deep joy. What are some of those things? Explain if necessary.
3. Do you notice a contrast between the first list and the second list? How would you explain the difference?
4. According to Romans 15:13, joy and peace lead to ________________. Why is that so needed and necessary in our current culture?
Today’s Prayer