If you think “God just wants me to be happy,” you are going to be very disappointed in your Christian life, and inclined toward sin and doubt. False expectations never end well.
The notion that God just wants us to be happy has led many believers to question God’s existence when some evil befalls them or their life is not working out the way they wanted. It has led others to disobey God’s Word, reasoning that God can’t possibly require them to do X since X does not bring them happiness. I see this all the time when it comes to matters of sexuality and divorce/remarriage.
This isn’t to say God wants us to be sad, but merely that God’s purpose for our lives is not our personal happiness per se. His purpose is that we live our lives for His purpose and that our character be conformed to His image. He is primarily interested in our obedience, our dedication, and our faithfulness – not our happiness. While obedience often leads to happiness, sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes it leads to loss, sorrow, and personal difficulty.
No, God does not want you to be happy. He wants you to obey Him. He wants you to take up our cross and follow Him. Doing so will always bring ultimate fulfillment, but not always ultimate happiness.
June 17, 2021 at 5:21 pm
Jason, what you wrote is RIGHT ON. Thank you!
Our wonderful Declaration of Independence states “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” and that is a BEAUTIFUL phrase!
But God does not want us to pursue “happiness” with Him, instead
HE wants us to pursue HIM, as in Psalms 42:1 “As the deer yearns for the water brooks, so my soul yearns after you.”
HE lovingly gives us HIS perfect Laws for us to obey so we are protected, sanctified, regenerated, holy as well as freed us from the oppression of Satan.
In essence – Psalms 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.”
Best Song Ever! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBdlOQZUXGw
Obeying God is a JOY because we could not be in better hands than HIS.
The LORD does promise us JOY & PEACE when we are filled with HIS Spirit and walk in HIS ways. HE showers us in mercy, grace & HIS amazing love, both in the good times as well in our times of sorrow.
HE is there. HE is always there. HE is as close as the mention of HIS Name ~ Jesus Christ.
And truthfully, as a result of all that Jesus Christ is to me, I am VERY happy…but more than that, I have JOY & PEACE 🙂
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June 17, 2021 at 10:15 pm
I don’t disagree but living in God’s will is happiness. His Commands are loving guidelines for proper relationships with God and your fellow man.
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June 20, 2021 at 5:53 pm
I only disagree in the sense that faith and obedience will eventually lead to the ultimate happiness
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June 21, 2021 at 12:19 am
Proverbs says He that trusteth, feareth, and keepeth shall be happy, John tells us that an obedient person is a happy person. So , yes God seems to very interested in our being obedient and many times the byproduct can be happiness.
My friends pastor just ended a 13 week series on being/finding happy
I hope he addressed obedience in his lessons
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