Just want to be happy. How many songs have been sung and poems have been written about being happy? In a word..Happiness is big. Paramount. The essence of a fulfilled life, perhaps at least in any normal perspective.
The Declaration of independence, as well, states that we are endowed by our Creator with, “certain unalienable rights…” One of which is the pursuit of happiness. Yet, some well-meaning church leaders have mocked those who, “just want to be happy.” Sadly, I’ve heard more than one pastor say, ” God doesn’t care about your happiness!”. Even in the law there is something called “Quiet enjoyment.” This means: everyone has the right to have quiet enjoyment or peaceful existence in their particular living space or property. Yet, these well-meaning clergy have relegated the innate desire to be happy as some simple, carnal even devilish inclination.
While, it is true, God’s concerns for us are far bigger and far beyond us having simple happiness. He’s always building character in us and working a plan for our ultimate good and the good of others in which momentary happiness isn’t necessarily the prerequisite! However, I do believe God wants joy to be the endgame. Actually , it’s the adversary and his minions who come to rob us of our quiet enjoyment of the life we’ve been blessed with.
Have you ever wondered why the sweet moments in life are so fleeting? I’m not speaking of the seasons. Scripture teaches that it’s God who changes the seasons. God who has divinely arranged for sunshine over the just as well as the wicked. Rainfall on the just and on the wicked. I’m speaking of a different force at work..a joy stealer by definition according to John 10:10. “The thief comes..to kill, steal and destroy.” Yes, Satan will still your time, money and ultimately your life and your eternal life. Like a prickly scaffold, one of his specialties is stealing your life bit by bit, moment by moment by robbing you of joy.. interrupting your happiness. It’s in the terminal diagnosis of a spouse, just a few months after the honeymoon. It is the loss of life in a fatal car accident of a recent high school graduate. The company that closes down a year after you arrived at what you thought was your dream job. These things have a nasty way of creating a painful nuisance in your path, sabotaging momentum and distracting you from laying down in the God-given green pastures.
Are these such happenings coincidence or the product of evil always inherently at work in our fallen world? I’d say the latter. Yet, “why God?” is always the question with some people blaming every evil event and strenuous situation on God. One online commenter said as much after hearing the news of a recent local tragedy. “I’d rather serve the devil, God is too evil and arbitrary.” I think you have the two confused, I replied. To start in the move towards happy, wisdom is required. Know your rights! We must, also, know our enemy and most urgently, our God. God is loving and kind. It’s the enemy of our soul who is intentional about short circuiting every joyous moment he can get his hands on.
He doesn’t have to be successful, though. The saying goes : “The key to true happiness is enjoying the scenery along the detour.”
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