When I see a perpetually unhappy Christian, it makes me unhappy…for them.
Don’t get me wrong. I know life can sometimes be hard, and I understand there are ups and downs. There will be times when you’re in the valley. And there are times when you will experience all the emotions God gave you — including the negative ones. So read this carefully…
I’m not chastising you for experiencing negative emotions. I’m rebuking you if you choose to live in negative emotions. And I’m challenging you to take a close look at what it means to be happy in life.
Let me first say that your primary goal should be joy, not happiness. That was the subject of my final sermon at Olney Baptist Church for 2024. If you have 49 minutes, you can watch it below.
Pursue God and seek the joy He gives. And be aware that God will sometimes lead you through seasons of suffering. You will spend some time in the valley. There will be tribulation in the world. But…God has overcome the world! And you can find peace, rest, and joy in spite of your circumstances in Him.
You can do this because you are not your body. You are a soul–made for your Creator. Your soul is immortal. Your body is temporary. And while your body is very much linked to this world, your soul is made for a deep and abiding relationship with your Creator. (If you want to explore that more, watch the sermon – linked above).
That said, we are human and we do live in this world (for now). And we want to be happy in our lives. And the Bible does address that. The Book of Proverbs, for example, has much to say on the subject:
- “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13)
- “He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.” (Proverbs 14:21)
- “He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.” (Proverbs 16:20)
- “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)
- “Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.” (Proverbs 28:14)
- “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” (Proverbs 29:18)
I encourage you to study and meditate on those Bible verses about happiness, but a quick (and overly simplified summary) of the points made is…
If you want to be happy:
- Seek wisdom
- Don’t resent or despise your neighbor
- Help those in need
- Trust in the Lord
- Cultivate a “merry heart”
- Guard your spirit
- Fear God…always
- Focus on God’s revelation and the vision He gives you
- Keep God’s law (or commandments)
There is a lot to unpack in those instructions (pulled from the preceding list of biblical proverbs), but that’s your roadmap to a Happy New Year. The question is…
Will you follow that roadmap? Will you heed those instructions?
I hope the answer is “yes.”
God bless you and may you have a joy-filled 2025!
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