Does God Want Me To Be Happy?
We live in a very instant society. Instant food, instant success, instant gratification. It’s very easy to forget that some good things take time to come and that patience is an actual virtue expressed in the Bible.
Because of this instant gratification lifestyle, there is a popular notion that you ought to do the things that make you happy. ‘Life is short’ they say do what brings you the most happiness. If we as Christians adopt this mindset, we would be booking ourselves a one-way ticket to hell.
Does God want me to be happy?
Now don’t get me wrong, God wants us to be happy. He wants us to feel safe, contented and joyous, however, He never promised a life of all sugar, spice and everything nice. In fact, Jesus said quite the opposite:
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” Matthew 5:11
I’m sorry…did Jesus say ‘if men shall revile you’? Nope. He said ‘when’. Jesus knew that people weren’t going to like His followers. He knows that sometimes, we are going to be tested and tried to lose our faith.
We must remember that the enemy is actively seeking to destroy anyone who chooses to follow Christ. We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). But be not dismayed, great is our reward.
“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:12
Self-serving culture
God’s goal is to make us more like Him. His goal is holiness, not happiness. Happiness is an emotion, it is fleeting but holiness is a character that is moulded and cannot be taken away.
If we adopt the ‘Do what makes you happy’ culture, then we are serving ourselves. Selfishness is the exact opposite of God’s love.
If we only seek to do things that bring us the most happiness, then when trials, persecution, and temptation come our way, we will choose the easy route. We will make the decisions that will bring the most pleasure and satisfaction, rather than choosing to do what is right.
Very few people will choose God’s will over their happiness.
“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:14
The Bible says ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ Matthew 6:33. When we seek to do the will of God, rather than what we want to do, we will receive all of the good things that God has in store for us.
Pleasure evermore
God’s plan is that we all be content. Contentment and happiness are not the same. While contentment gives us lasting peace and joy, happiness has to be constantly stimulated.
God wants us to live abundant lives in Him on Earth, which sometimes requires us to sacrifice our temporary happiness for lasting good. He wants to give us good things (Matthew 7:11) but His way is not the world’s way. The world’s ‘happy culture’ will leave you empty and unsatisfied but the gifts that God bestows will give a real sense of fulfilment.
This doesn’t mean that it will be always easy but in the end, we are promised everlasting joy when we enter God’s kingdom.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4
Prayer for Today
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your gift of salvation. Thank you for your promise of everlasting happiness. Help me to focus on you even when I am not happy. Help me still to be content in your will OH LORD.
Amen.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article today. If you have a question, query or story you’d like to share with me, please leave a comment or email me using the form below.
