Happiness through God

This last week has been a week full of challenges for me, and yet at the same time, my soul is at peace. This morning I picked up the Scriptures, opened them, and the first thing I read was:

“Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the LORD His God.” (Psalm 146:5)

One religious tradition that is very often heard today is the idea that “God doesn’t promise happiness, but he does promise joy. Joy and happiness are different.” In many ways, this teaching has allowed many joyless and miserable Christians to continue in the delusion that nothing is wrong with their relationship with God. However, the Bible says “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help.”

Do you believe that the God of Israel is the One who HELPS you? Even in your daily life? Have you learned to draw upon Him for help day by day? There are many hostile forces opposing us in this world. Many demon spirits that work invisibly are seeking to take away our peace, our joy, our well-being.

You don’t need lots of money or a problem-free life to be happy. I’ve seen many poor people in Asia that are quite happy. God doesn’t promise we will always have lots of money, or a problem-free life. But He does say that if He is your help, you are happy.

Jesus did say, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you.” (John 14:27). He also said, “I have told you these things, so that you may have peace in Me. In this world you will have trouble, but be brave, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

So in spite of problems, troubles and so on, through casting our burdens on the Lord, trusting in the Lord and receiving His help, we can be happy. He, the Lord, can give us an internal state that is happy, that is cheerful, that rejoices.

Does it always happen for every true Christian? I don’t think so. But that does not mean it can’t be, especially if we learn to take on the attitudes that please God.

If we truly practice being grateful to God the Father constantly, and giving thanks to Him always, like the Bible says, we are at least 50% of the way to being internally happy! Maybe 100%. You cannot maintain a grateful attitude and remain unhappy. Sometimes the mere act of verbalising thanks can make you feel better also.

One of the fruit of the spirit is joy. Joy gives you a certain inner sparkle, and it is actually a high form of happiness. Joy is God’s will for the Christian.

The Bible also tells us to put on the garment of praise instead of the spirit of heaviness.

Depression and anxiety are the work of the devil. Praising God can break the power of those horrid conditions, but it will take some persistence. I’m not saying it is easy, just that it is possible. Right thinking and right thinking eventually affect our brain chemistry. This is now scientific fact, not speculation.

The Bible says to “Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). But the way to get there is in verse 18, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus”.

Blessed (happy) is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.
² Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit. (Psalm 32:1,2)

There is happiness and blessedness to those who receive God’s forgiveness. This forgiveness is available because of the sacrifice of Jesus, in which all the evil we deserve were put on Jesus, so that all the good He deserves could come to us as joint heirs with Christ.

Another important consideration is that it is God’s will for us to have peace (shalom, well-being). When we are in peace, we are tranquil, at rest and not tormented. Contentment is part of peace.

The Bible also tells us “in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). When we are thankful and grateful, we are happy!

So is there happiness through God? Of course there is. That is His will for your life, no matter what you may be facing. There may be moments of grief and loss, but they pass. God’s general will for your life is to be happy. Praise God!

Michael Fackerell