Does God Want Me to be Happy?
Seeing the title of this blog, it would seem like an easy answer to the question would be, "Of course God wants me to be happy". However, easy answers are not always very helpful. Unless our foundation is based upon Scripture, we are open for deception. It seems that people today use their level of happiness as a guide to determine what God's will is for them. If something makes them happy, then it must be God's will for them. And if something makes them unhappy, then they determine that that is not God's will for them. Using happiness as a guide leaves us wide open for deception. It sets up "Self" as a god. It will lead to an ungodly lifestyle which can include abortion, divorce, sex outside of marriage, adultery (extra marital affairs), justification of gay marriage, and a general partying lifestyle. In order to follow the god of happiness, our focus is on self gratification rather than on the Cross of Christ. While we all want the resurrection life, the truth is that even Jesus could not rise from the dead without dying first. Life truly comes out of death. Jesus taught,
"He that takes not his cross and follows after me is not worthy of me. He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew 10:38,39).
The Bible is filled with stories about people that suffered many things because they chose to follow God's ways, rather than seeking happiness.
Abraham was grieved when he had to send his son, Ishmael, away.
Jacob lived with sorrow all his days at the thought of his beloved son, Joseph, being killed by a wild animal. He didn't know that God sent Joseph ahead of him to Egypt in order to spare them from famine.
Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers, and then was falsely accused by Pharaoh's wife and ended up in prison for years.
Moses "refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter/choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." (Hebrews 11:24,25)
David was pursued by Saul, who became jealous and tried to kill David.
The prophet Hosea was told by God to marry a harlot. That certainly would not bring a lot of happiness to his life.
Sometimes, the people closest to them didn't understand. Job's wife told him that he should "curse God and die" when he had lost everything - his children, his wealth and even his health. (Job 2:9)
Now, all of this does not mean that God is against us being happy, and prefers sadness. Not at all! But, our level of happiness is not a dependable guide in determining what God's will is for us. We are not to be led by our emotions. Emotions can and will deceive us, and are up and down depending upon circumstances. A recent article in the local paper stated that a study showed that people that focused on happiness the most were the most likely to experience periods of depression. God doesn't want us to be up and down, and blown around by circumstances.Paul wrote to the Ephesians that we should, "from now on, walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind." (Ephesians 4:17)
When Jesus was about to go to the cross and die, He spoke to His disciples about it, and recognized that this message would cause sadness in the disciples. In John 16:6,7 He told them, "Because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you." It is evident from this, that it is not God's will for us to be sad either. The Holy Spirit is here to comfort us when circumstances are difficult. It is interesting, though, that the comfort that the Holy Spirit brings us comes by bringing to our remembrance the glory of Jesus. Jesus said, When the Comforter is come, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth which proceeds from the Father - He shall testify of Me." (John 15:26) Also, speaking of the Holy Spirit, our comforter, Jesus said, "He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall he speak" and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of mine, and show it to you." And now therefore [because of the news of His leaving them] you have sorrow; but i will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man takes from you." Here we have a happiness and joy that is with us no matter what our circumstances are. Again, Jesus prayed for the disciples
"Father, I will that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which You have given Me: for You loved Me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:24)
The word translated "behold" here is: theorio. It means "to be a spectator of, or discern". In 2:3 Corinthians Paul wrote that as we "behold the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image". The word "behold" there is different. It is: katoptrizomai". It means "to mirror oneself, to see reflected". As we discern the glory of Jesus, we will also reflect it.
His will for us is that we be made into the image and likeness of Jesus. His will has been the same from the beginning.
In Genesis 1:26 He said, "Let Us make man in Our image and after our likeness."
In Romans 8:29 Paul wrote, "For, whom He did foreknow, He also did predestine to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He [His Son] might be the first-born of many brethren."
In 2 Corinthians 3:18 he wrote that, "We all, with open face beholding (as in a glass) the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image - from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord."
It is this focus on the glory of the Lord, and that glory being reflected in our hearts, changing us into His image that can keep us grounded. It does not change with the circumstances. As Paul said,
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh." (2 Corinthians 4:8-11)
This is the hope we have in Jesus. That "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look - not at the things which are seen - but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporary; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17,18)
This gospel, this good news will give us peace and joy that can help us overcome the trials of life. Happiness can come and go because of circumstances. We cannot use it as a guide. But there can always be an inner peace and joy when we keep our focus on the eternal glory to come because of what our Savior did for us.
"He that takes not his cross and follows after me is not worthy of me. He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew 10:38,39).
The Bible is filled with stories about people that suffered many things because they chose to follow God's ways, rather than seeking happiness.
Abraham was grieved when he had to send his son, Ishmael, away.
Jacob lived with sorrow all his days at the thought of his beloved son, Joseph, being killed by a wild animal. He didn't know that God sent Joseph ahead of him to Egypt in order to spare them from famine.
Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers, and then was falsely accused by Pharaoh's wife and ended up in prison for years.
Moses "refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter/choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." (Hebrews 11:24,25)
David was pursued by Saul, who became jealous and tried to kill David.
The prophet Hosea was told by God to marry a harlot. That certainly would not bring a lot of happiness to his life.
Sometimes, the people closest to them didn't understand. Job's wife told him that he should "curse God and die" when he had lost everything - his children, his wealth and even his health. (Job 2:9)
Now, all of this does not mean that God is against us being happy, and prefers sadness. Not at all! But, our level of happiness is not a dependable guide in determining what God's will is for us. We are not to be led by our emotions. Emotions can and will deceive us, and are up and down depending upon circumstances. A recent article in the local paper stated that a study showed that people that focused on happiness the most were the most likely to experience periods of depression. God doesn't want us to be up and down, and blown around by circumstances.Paul wrote to the Ephesians that we should, "from now on, walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind." (Ephesians 4:17)
When Jesus was about to go to the cross and die, He spoke to His disciples about it, and recognized that this message would cause sadness in the disciples. In John 16:6,7 He told them, "Because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you." It is evident from this, that it is not God's will for us to be sad either. The Holy Spirit is here to comfort us when circumstances are difficult. It is interesting, though, that the comfort that the Holy Spirit brings us comes by bringing to our remembrance the glory of Jesus. Jesus said, When the Comforter is come, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth which proceeds from the Father - He shall testify of Me." (John 15:26) Also, speaking of the Holy Spirit, our comforter, Jesus said, "He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall he speak" and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of mine, and show it to you." And now therefore [because of the news of His leaving them] you have sorrow; but i will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man takes from you." Here we have a happiness and joy that is with us no matter what our circumstances are. Again, Jesus prayed for the disciples
"Father, I will that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which You have given Me: for You loved Me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:24)
The word translated "behold" here is: theorio. It means "to be a spectator of, or discern". In 2:3 Corinthians Paul wrote that as we "behold the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image". The word "behold" there is different. It is: katoptrizomai". It means "to mirror oneself, to see reflected". As we discern the glory of Jesus, we will also reflect it.
His will for us is that we be made into the image and likeness of Jesus. His will has been the same from the beginning.
In Genesis 1:26 He said, "Let Us make man in Our image and after our likeness."
In Romans 8:29 Paul wrote, "For, whom He did foreknow, He also did predestine to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He [His Son] might be the first-born of many brethren."
In 2 Corinthians 3:18 he wrote that, "We all, with open face beholding (as in a glass) the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image - from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord."
It is this focus on the glory of the Lord, and that glory being reflected in our hearts, changing us into His image that can keep us grounded. It does not change with the circumstances. As Paul said,
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh." (2 Corinthians 4:8-11)
This is the hope we have in Jesus. That "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look - not at the things which are seen - but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporary; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17,18)
This gospel, this good news will give us peace and joy that can help us overcome the trials of life. Happiness can come and go because of circumstances. We cannot use it as a guide. But there can always be an inner peace and joy when we keep our focus on the eternal glory to come because of what our Savior did for us.
posted by Laurie T at
1:08 PM
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