If you're like me at all, you enjoy analyzing people and their lives. A good platform for that can be Instagram - even though very often it distorts the picture. Not long ago someone I know also analyzed my stories and texted me about their observations: "You're probably crazy happy right now!"
My first thought was, "it's nice that people see my life this way". But the second thought made me wonder: is this true? If so, what is the reason and the source of my happiness?
Factor Analysis
I tried to look at my life from a different perspective and evaluate the level and the factors of my happiness. I live in America - the country that seems to be the promised land to many people in my homeland. Moreover, to get there I didn't have to flee the country as a refuge or pay millions of dollars - I simply got married to the man I love. Speaking of that, I have an amazing husband that loves me and fulfills all my desires. We travel, live in a nice house, buy pretty much everything we want, hang out with friends, have family, are healthy... And I can continue!
If you look at all of these facts from the point of view of happiness, an average person would definitely be "crazy happy" as my friend said. But as ridiculous as it may sound, none of those factors really make me happy. I could come up with a long list to oppose the one that should prove my happiness. For example, my family does not live in the same country and I haven't seen them for almost a year, we still live with our parents (and do not own a house), and all our friends attend different churches - I could be creative and write a lot of negative things if I wanted to.
The thing is, that money, friends, countries, or circumstances will never be enough to make us completely satisfied. All the factors of happiness have their own conditions that can overshadow them. But does it mean that we can never be happy?
Problem Solution
I decided to ask my followers about their happiness, but I didn't receive much feedback. Maybe because it's hard to give a simple answer to such a question. Maybe because people don't want to tell others that they aren't that happy. Or maybe they just don't wanna bother replying to my stories (haha) but that's not the point.
However, one honest answer supported my ideas about happiness: "I'm so happy! The Lord set me free, restored me, and filled me with the joy of the Lord!"
While circumstances cannot bring full satisfaction to our souls, Christianity has a pretty simple solution to the question of happiness. I found a lot of verses that prove this point but one of them simply spoke to my heart:
"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Ps. 16:11, ESV)
This whole psalm - David's song, addressed to the Lord - talks about joy while this verse sums everything up: eternal pleasures (aka happiness) are in God's hands. Full and complete joy can be found in His presence.
And God himself shows us the path of life, the path to the fullness of joy, the path to eternal pleasures.
The Way to Happiness
"Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"(John 14:6).
There is only one way to a full and blessed life, there's only one way to happiness, only one way to the Father, who holds eternal pleasures in His hands. The only way, the only truth is Jesus Christ. He's called the founder of our faith and He's the one who perfects it in us (Heb. 12:2).
Only when Jesus comes into my heart, do all the circumstances come together into a wonderful picture called My Life. And only then, looking at all of it, I can say: "maybe I do lack something from a human point of view, but my heart is filled with true and complete happiness!"
Circumstances or Mindset
I responded to the message by saying that I do have everything to be happy. But I understand that this is not necessarily true for everyone and might not stay like this in my life either. I know that many people live in completely different circumstances which we would not call fortunate or joyful. While writing this post I remembered something that apostle Paul said about his own life (and the lives of people serving with him):
"We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything" (2 Cor. 6:8-10)
The circumstances of those people's lives were not intended to make them happy but they had a different idea! They were always rejoicing and considered themselves wealthy (possessing everything) and blessed. These verses, again and again, remind me that happiness is not about outward circumstances but rather our inner perception of the world. You can read more about it in my earlier post called "Setting Your Mind".
Am I happy? Yes, I am happy because Jesus loved me and filled my heart with love, peace, and joy. I am happy because when God came into my life He made me complete - and in any circumstances, I am counting His blessings. I am happy because the Holy Spirit lives in my heart and He speaks to me, leads me, and strengthens me. I am happy because I dedicated my life to serving the One, who redeemed me and called me. I am happy because He gave me so many blessings that make me even happier!
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