Happiness?

Happiness
I just listened to Pharell Williams smash hit “Happy” on You Tube. It gave me a boost going into the weekend … then it got me thinking …

If I’ve learned one thing about happiness, or joy, it’s that searching for it directly never results in finding it, at least not in keeping it.

Trying to hold onto joy in this world is like grabbing a fistful of clear spring water and attempting to carry it away in your hand … all such attempts are doomed to frustration, and failure.

And the song seems a bit frivolous to me. I don’t mean to be a killjoy. Again, I like the song (and I like Pharell). But just this week, two families I love lost dear members to death, and my own ninety-four-year-old mother fell down the stairs, and can no longer walk.

Darkness breaks in suddenly here. To maintain a sense of sanity, it’s important to realize the truth: we live on a battleground, not a playground. If you’ve lived past your teen years, you don’t need me to tell you that our dreams in this world are fragile, at best.

The unthinkable has become routine … Women and children kidnapped as sexual slaves … men’s heads heartlessly severed … children being transformed from perfect health to autistic, overnight … people being murdered in plain sight in the street … I could go on and on, but you get the point. We cannot ignore the sorrows and horrors of this world for long without it creeping back in to our consciousness. The darkness here is pervasive.

Even so, a decision to give up our search for joy amidst the darkness is merely a decision to die. Those seeking happiness in this world are not wrong. In fact, I think they are very much on target. At least they haven’t lost their zeal for life.

There must be a place where genuine joy can be found! An ache deep inside us reminds us of it still. But here’s my question: Who put that ache inside us in the first place?

When we are done attempting to anesthetize ourselves against all the pain and darkness through the myriad of false paths this world offers us, when we are ready to face the world as it really is, there is indeed a path that will satisfy that ache. But do not expect to find it by following the crowd. It can be found only on a narrow path that few are willing to travel.

Dear reader of this blog. I pray that you will find true happiness. This ministry was formed so that you might find it, and keep it forever. But first you must be able to answer the question: Who put that ache inside you in the first place? The Bible is clear:

“For by Him (Jesus) all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created by Him (Jesus) and for Him” Colossians 1:16

“… seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
“Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?” Luke 9:23-25

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” John. 3:16-17

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” John 15:11