“I Will Not Be Happy!”

“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and who acquires understanding.” Proverbs 3:13 HCSB

Contributor:
Joy Bollinger

One late afternoon, many years ago, our then nine-year-old son, was told he could not play outside until his homework was done. He became belligerent, so we sent him upstairs to take his shower and think about his attitude. After about twenty minutes and not hearing anything, I silently climbed the stairs and stood outside the closed bathroom door. I was surprised to find him happily singing, when he suddenly stopped and said, “I will not be happy!”

It was all I could do to keep from laughing, but at that moment, the Lord taught me a very valuable lesson. Happiness is a choice. Regardless of what is occurring in life, we choose to be miserable or we choose to be happy, for true happiness is not dependent on our surroundings or circumstances.

Happiness is a state of well-being and joy that come only from the Lord (I Peter 1:8). Happiness and joy are interchangeable and defined as serenity, contentment, satisfaction, exhilaration, triumph, fulfillment, tranquility, peacefulness, joyfulness, and delight. The Apostle Paul said, “We must be joyful in the Lord! I’ll say it again: Be joyful!” (Psalm 37:4; Philippians 4:4).

Paul had every right to tell us to be joyful, because he understood the concept of joy, despite having suffered starvation; being shipwrecked three times; robbed; betrayed by friends; five times receiving thirty-nine stripes on his back and beaten three times with rods. Yet he said, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:12-13 NIV). Paul based joy and contentment solely on his relationship with the Lord and not on the circumstances of his life.

Living a life of contentment and joy can be challenging, if we don’t have a strong relationship with the Lord. Conversely, discontentment and dissatisfaction are birthed out of worldliness, which is a preoccupation with material values and everyday life rather than a spiritual existence.

Our culture breeds discontentment. People are unhappy in varying degrees and areas of life whether it is with the government, a job, church, spouse, friends, children, lifestyle, one’s physical appearance, health, home, and so on. Thus, when needs, wants, and desires are not met to one’s satisfaction and specifications, there is a forfeiture of happiness and joy. Our son was upset because he couldn’t have his way, so he made a very loud and vocal decision not to be happy.

The Reverend Billy Graham said, “Show me a Christian who is utterly devoted to Christ, whose sole aim in life is loyalty to Him and zeal for His service, whose burning desire is to do the will of God at any price, and I will show you a person who has solved the problem of worldliness.”

We are to be triumphant, victorious, and undefeated in the Lord. The Apostle Paul said, “Now thanks be unto God, who always leads us to triumph in Christ and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14). In other words, we who seek God with a whole heart, will triumph in Christ, with the world seeing in us the fruits of forbearance, kindness, goodness, love, joy, peace, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22).

True joy brings satisfaction. How can we not be satisfied when the Lord promises that even in the most trying times He satisfies the weary ones and refreshes everyone who languishes? (Jeremiah 31:25) He opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing (Psalm 145:16). The question to us is, “Do we have our hands opened to Him?” Have we released our worries and cares to Him? Are we able to praise Him in all things and trust that He has a plan?

Life is unfair, hard, and full of challenges and questions. Jesus even said, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV).

Surely, we cannot avoid sorrow, loss, hardships, and disappointments, but God is ready, able, and willing to meet every need in every circumstance. He wants us to trust Him, so that we may experience the joy that comes in knowing Him as Abba Father. He longs to meet with us in prayer and conversation. He wants to reveal His nature and love through His Word that encourages, invigorates, delights, energizes, and vitalizes.

God will act on our behalf when we delight (take great pleasure) in Him, commit our way to Him, and trust Him (Psalm 37:45). If we truly take pleasure in the Lord, the heart will find peace, fulfillment, and joy in Him, despite outward circumstances. For we know that ultimately, we cannot look to the world or to others to find fulfillment, satisfaction, fairness, and peace. Instead, we choose to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). And in that choice we find joy and peace.

PRAYER:  FATHER, forgive me for looking to the world and to others to satisfy my longing for happiness that can only be found in You. Help me to trust and love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength and to read and understand Your Word. For I recognize that Your Word is a treasure trove of wisdom, guidance, comfort, peace, joy, and love. In Jesus name, amen.