No, I am not saying it is wrong to be happy. Everybody wants to be happy. But I am saying that God has something BETTER for Christians than happiness. What is it? JOY!
Jesus said in (John 15:11) “These things have I spoken unto you, that my JOY might remain in you, and that your JOY might be FULL.”
See, happiness is connected to an experience or circumstance. You get a new car so you are happy. But if something happens to that car, you are no longer happy. Why? Because happiness depends upon good things happening. The danger with always seeking happiness is that is fleeting; it is temporary.
For the Christian there is something better–the JOY of the Lord. Why is joy better? Because it isn’t dependent upon circumstances, which constantly change. Joy comes from the Lord, Who NEVER changes!
A friend of mine used to say it this way, “Happiness comes from happenings, but joy comes from within, even when nothing’s happening.”
The apostle Paul didn’t say, “For to me to live is HAPPINESS…” He said, “For to me to live is CHRIST…” (Phil. 1:21). As long as you are seeking after happiness, you will be unsatisfied because what you are seeking after won’t last.
Paul was consumed with living for Christ. His life did not revolve around circumstances; it revolved around Jesus. What are YOU consumed with? How would you finish that phrase, “For to me to live is _________” (Your job? your family? your hobby?).
You see, anything you put in that blank other than Jesus Christ is setting yourself up for disappointment because life isn’t about those other things; it’s about Jesus…. the only source of true joy.
As long as you are trying to be HAPPY, everything must go your way. Other people will control your happiness. But when you have the JOY of the Lord… nobody can take that away!
So stop trying to be a HAPPY Christian and start being a JOYFUL one!