People run around trying to find happiness. They count on money, achievements, things, and other people to make them happy. There’s a difference between the pursuit of happiness and the pursuit of meaning. Lasting happiness doesn’t happen without meaning, but when life has meaning, happiness is found. Does God want you to be happy? He designed you on purpose for a purpose and when you pursue his will, you find happiness. Fulfilling all your self-centered desires is not God’s design, and self-gratification ends in emptiness and sadness. Loving God and serving others, rather than yourself, brings meaning to life. The happiness of a relationship with Jesus Christ permeates every area of life. It allows you to be happy amid trials and challenges. No, not ha ha happy, but you have confidence that God is with you and walking alongside you through whatever you are going through. The happy life is not rooted in circumstances, it’s rooted in where you are spiritually. Joy and happiness are not about being in a good mood, they are connected to a relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s a state of being, being in Jesus!

Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 7:14 (NIV) – When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other….

Philippians 1:1-4 (CEV) – From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. To all God’s people who belong to Christ Jesus at Philippi and to all your bishops and deacons. I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace! Every time I think of you, I thank my God. And whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy.

Philippians 1:5-6 (CEV) – This is because you have taken part with me in spreading the good news from the first day you heard about it. God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:7 (CEV) – – From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. To all God’s people who belong to Christ Jesus at Philippi and to all your bishops and deacons.

Philippians 2:5-7 (NIV) – In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, …

Acts 16:25 (NRSVUE) – About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Philippians 1:1 (CEV) – Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, …

Philippians 4:4 (NRSVUE) – Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

Questions: Do you think of yourself as a happy person? How would your friends and family answer that question? When are you happiest? Do your circumstances dictate your mood? Explain. How does your relationship with Jesus Christ affect your happiness when life is difficult? What advice do you give others who are down about their circumstances?

Prayer: Gracious and Holy God, I am so thankful for the inner peace and joy that comes from my relationship with Jesus. Help me to hold tightly to the confidence of your presence in the good times and in the bad. Draw me back to you when I allow my emotions to be overwhelmed by my circumstance. Thank you for not changing or growing weary, because I do. Hold me together, Lord! In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.