Ramon Arias | December 30, 2013
Throughout history happiness is expressed in all cultures and languages to convey a desired sentiment for things to have a good outcome. The wish can be a sincere desire for the best without being straightforward about some uncertainties that must be faced which could pose an obstruction to the desired happiness. Nonetheless, the wish or prayer for happiness is pronounced hoping for the best knowing the worst can jump out at us at any time.
Every human has an interpretation of what happiness is. Do you know yours?
Subjectivity is the personal interpretation we give to all things. When it comes to happiness man has countless formulas to achieve the allusive sentiment, yet, for the most part, the opposite is true in people’s lives and unhappiness is predominant.
I have been close to power and wealth; close enough to see the futility of both when individuals strive to gain them in the pursuit of what they call happiness. They all suffer from the same misconception in thinking if they could just get a little more it would be enough, it never is. This desire is not reserved to those who pursue power and wealth. It is also true all the way down the social scale where people scrape for whatever little power and material gain they can get in their pursuit of climbing the ladder of what people have labeled as a successful life. People at both extremes are the same. Culture, nationality and language do not make any difference. I have witnessed the same symptoms in all the nations I have visited or lived in.
It is impressive to see how much people are willing to strive day in and day out to arrive at a place of total fulfillment, yet true happiness eludes them. They fix ideas in their head of what will make them experience happiness. Whether people admit it or not this idea of “MAKE ME HAPPY” does not work because in character it has a faulty foundation. Let me be straightforward, no human being can make another human truly and indefinitely happy. This same principle applies to all things. What? Your initial reaction may be to say, “You are out of your mind for saying such a thing,” yet deep down inside you know it is true.
Human desires are insatiable. The mind has no limit as to what it wants of its perceived reality. Here is where the challenge lies. If man’s understanding of reality is wrong then everything will turn out to be a nightmare that produces destruction rather than fulfillment because of the law of sowing and reaping.
If we want to discover and enjoy true happiness we must be willing to have an open mind especially if we have a misconception of who God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are. Here is the reason we must have an open mind: The Godhead is the only true source of happiness. Now do you see why I asked you to be open-minded?
Outside of them there is no happiness, hope, peace, love or any true meaning in life. Absolutely, none! The Godhead does not care about religion, but they do care about a person’s well-being and only They fully understand our design and can bring it to fruition.
The happiest people upon the face of the earth are the true Bible believing Christians. Others who choose not to bond with the Godhead continue to struggle to find happiness away from the Giver of Life. Make belief “Christians” are fakes, pretenders and can easily be spotted if you allow the Holy Spirit to reveal them to you. They do not model or manifest God’s joy in their lives.
The entire Bible reveals God’s desire for you to have a life full of happiness and joy. Let me share with you just a few passages that can motivate you to do further research to be filled with His Knowledge, understanding and wisdom not only to live day by day a life filled with happiness but to spread that joy all around you in spite of life’s difficulties:
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Psalm 1:1-6
“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:3-4
“Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.” Proverbs 16:20
“I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live.” Ecclesiastes 3:12
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice…. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4, 7
A state of happiness is not problem free but every test has a purpose to perfect us:
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” 1 Peter 4:12
“… You are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
It is up to you and only you to connect with the source of life in order to have the true perspective of happiness. Stop looking for happiness in all the wrong places. You can have the best from God if you are willing.
With this in mind may every day be a happy one for you!