Does God Intend For Us To Always Be Happy?

The contemporary religious world seems at times to have God confused with Santa Claus. To listen to some people, I'd come to the conclusion that their view is that our Heavenly Father always intends to give us exactly what we want, behave exactly like we expect Him to behave and arrange our circumstances exactly the way we want them to be. When these things don't happy so that we can be happy at every minute, they seem to think that the devil must be attacking us to steal away our happiness. The Scripture, however, teaches a different viewpoint. Happiness is not our birthright and has not been promised to us as a continual, uninterrupted way of life.

The truth is that “happiness” is not God’s primary concern for us. There have been many great Christians throughout church history, and even now, who are very unhappy people. There's certainly nothing wrong with wanting to be happy. In fact, that's the normal desire of every human being, but the fact is that God has something much better than happiness available for us.

What God wants for you to know is joy. Joy and happiness are not the same thing. The difference is this: The word "happy" comes from the old English root word, “hap,” which means, “chance.” “Happiness” comes from the word happenings. Happiness is directed to the things that happen in our lives. It's entirely circumstantial. Happiness is connected to external factors and variables in life. Many who have experienced the emotional state of unhappiness have been extremely spiritual, faithful believers. In other words, it’s possible to be both filled with faith and unhappy at the same time.

Joy on the other hand, is something very different. Joy comes from a deep abiding recognition of who Jesus is in us. It is a quality that is not dependent on circumstances. Joy is connected to a Person. Joy comes through our conscious awareness of unity with God, through the Holy Spirit revealing Jesus Christ to us — the Triune God pouring out His love on us, and sharing His quality of eternal Life.

None of us like having problems or enduring suffering. No one would choose those things in and of themselves, but it’s obvious that trouble is part of life on planet earth until the Lord launches His recreation of nature. But even in a world of trouble, joy is available to those who know and believe in Him. Happiness may elude us at times, but joy is a different matter. Look at these passages from Psalms:

You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 16:11

For You make him most blessed forever; You make him joyful with gladness in Your presence. Psalm 21:6

For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name. Psalm 33:21

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. Psalm 36:7-8

When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, for You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. Psalm 6-7

And of course, the New Testament says the same. And notice that these passages say nothing about “happy” circumstances being the cause:

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12

“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

Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer. Romans 12:12

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17

As sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing to possessing all things. 2 Corinthians 6:10

But the fruit of the Spirit is … joy. Galatians 5:22

Rejoice always; again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Rejoice always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials. James 1:2

And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. 1 Peter 1:8

This long list of passages should demonstrate beyond doubt that joy is inseparable from the Christian life lived in its fullness, the grace walk. And along with joy invariably comes the result of gratitude or thanksgiving:

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:15-17

Happiness has to do with external things. Joy isn't grounded in the external but in the Eternal. It has to do with the realization of the internal life of Christ and the eternal reality that He is our very life!

God’s goal for you is not to see to it that you are always happy. I don’t think Paul was happy when he was in a prison. I don’t think Jesus was happy in the garden of Gethsemane. And yet Paul did say, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (Philippians 4:11). Jesus did say to the Father, “not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:30). The Bible says that “for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). Even for the Lord Jesus Himself there was a difference between joy and happiness. Aren’t you thankful that He chose joy over happiness?

There is a difference between joy and happiness for us, too. You may not be in a happy circumstance right now in your life, and you may be praying for God to change your circumstances so that you’ll be happy. There is nothing wrong with asking God to change your circumstances. Perhaps He will. But I encourage you to realize that what Christ offers you is much better. It runs much deeper than the shallow emotion of happiness. What Jesus Christ offers you is joy that is found in Him.