Week 9: Finding happiness

• Key verses: Psalm 1:1-3; 37:4
• The pursuit of happiness
• Accepting the good and the bad
• Parting thoughts

Key verses

Psalm 1:1-3 (NLT)

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
    or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.
    Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

Psalm 37:4 (NLT)

Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you your heart’s desires.

The pursuit of happiness

God created us to experience happiness. I like the science behind happiness that is in this week’s essay. We experience the release of chemicals which makes us feel happiness. We get this release in three ways: genetics (50%), circumstances (10%), and choices (40%). You and I control 40% of our happiness through the choices we make.

Satan uses the addictive nature of happiness to trap us – drug addiction, alcoholism, gluttony, greed, pornography. These activities bring momentary happiness and leave us wanting more. God designed us to pursue happiness. Satan uses this against us.

Psalm 1 rightly addresses our own choices as more important than our circumstances. Written three thousand years ago, it gives us a clear process for building the blessed life: (1) Foster relationships with people who honor the Lord. (2) Create space in your brain for truths of God’s Word. (3) Serve others in significant ways.

Moore, Mark E.. Core 52: A Fifteen-Minute Daily Guide to Build Your Bible IQ in a Year (p. 63). PRH Christian Publishing. Kindle Edition.

God lays out his plan for our happiness in Psalm 1. Get good friends. Meditate on his words. Serve others with action, time and resources. These things are addictive too. The key difference is that they bring prosperity not destruction. What will you choose today to make you happy?

It was said of Jonathan Edwards that, “his relationship with Christ was such that his happiness was out of reach of his enemies.” May we all find that level of contentment in Christ. 

Mike Woodruff, The Friday Update

Accepting the good and the bad

One the Bible readings this week was Job 1 & 2. We read about how Job was blessed and then lost everything. In chapter one Job loses his wealth and his children. In chapter two he loses his health. We often tie our happiness to these things. Possessions, money, children, and health. I would be happier if I had __________.

Interesting thought. Did Satan or God do this?
“All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence. Job 1:12
Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.” Job 2:3

After Job lost his health, his wife told him to curse God so he could die. After losing everything including his health, he had a way out. Death. ALS does the same but in reverse order. It steals your health, then it saps your wealth. We often are ready to end it all. In today’s terms, the discussion is wrapped in “quality of life.”

The most recent example was my tracheostomy. Doctors at my ALS clinic told us it would extend my life, but was it worth it? The disease would continue to progress. They didn’t think my quality of life would be worth extending my life. They are making the same argument as Job’s wife. It’s better to die, than to continue to live this way.

I choose life.

So did Job. He explained his decision in his response to his wife.

Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.

Job 2:8-10 (NLT)

That is the question. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad? Should I end my life because it’s going badly? If I forego a feeding tube, I could die of starvation. No Tracheostomy, I suffocate. But I no longer must live with a horrible quality of life.

Paul the apostle puts the dilemma this way.

For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

Philippians 1:20-24 (NLT)

Yes, going to Heaven is so much better than sticking around here. What a wonderful quality of life! But I firmly believe that God has a plan for us. I had a desire to preach early in my life. Maybe that was preparing me for today. All I know is that God has a plan for me. I’m not dead, so he’s not done with me yet!

Parting thoughts

This week was about happiness. I think I have experienced more choice-driven, holy happiness in the last few years. Much more than anticipated. In particular, I have spent more time meditating on God’s Word. Need help with meditation? Pretend you’re me. Can’t move. Can’t talk. Focus on his words and experience happiness God’s way.