god doesn t want you to be happygod doesn t want you to be happy

Here's how this thinking goes: Whatever makes me happy must be right. And the greatest of all of Gods commandments is that we love him with our whole being (Matthew 22:3738). We see many of the images on news feeds. Really? JavaScript is disabled. Crypto Sanctification is precisely the divine work by which we are weaned off the pleasures of the world onto the pleasures of . If he does only talk like that, he is going to create a biblically false picture of the gospel and of the Christian life. The God of the universe who sent Jesus to pay the penalty for my sins so that I can have eternal life doesn't want ME to be happy? If anything other than God is your source for joy in your life then you will eventually be let down. Its not easy. God is the only one that can bring you full and complete satisfaction. Whereas happiness is a fleeting emotion, joy is a state of gladness, peace and contentment. . Grateful you are giving thanks by faith and passing on the lessons you are learning to those near you. 5 Reasons Why Christian's Aren't Happy-They are taught to question that makes them happy. For the Scriptures say, You must be holy because I am holy.. The skies a beautiful blue. When another pregnancy followed, I was totally reconcilled with what God allowed in our lives. Paul told told the fruit of the spirit would be joy NOT HAPPINESS. But dont let your lifes pursuit become about them. This is why James says, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (James 1:23). Jesus gently replied, What is it to you? I have learned to be content with what God brings into our lives. God never said that He wants you to be happy. Followers of Jesus have a different view of things than everyone else. He wants us to honor him with our daily choices and overall lifestyle. A: No, God doesn't want you to be unhappy, but this doesn't necessarily mean that you ought to quit your job, or that this would be God's solution to your unhappiness. When you have something good in your life such as your kids, marriage, house, job, money, car, vacation, food, friends, clothes, etc Thank God for them. But dont put your hope in them. Oh, but the great commandment is so much more! Paul says, We rejoice in our sufferings why? I know its true for me because it has been true throughout time. How Evangelicals Lose Will Make All the Difference. I focused on life not going the way I wanted it to. God is most concerned that we experience the joy of love, not that we merely jump through behavioral hoops. One of the pivotal moments in my life, Barbara, was hearing you share your testimony of God calling you to box up your art and put it on the shelf at a time when you were trying to make motherhood and painting work. Our problem isnt too strong of desires. Note that I said, and has authored, edited, and contributed to several books, including, We Believe: Creeds, Confessions, & Catechisms for Worship. These pleasures do not flow from a sight of Gods glory. We must never let fear keep us from what God actually teaches is good. Answer (1 of 21): Sounds dangerous. When I finally stop focusing on my lossesand there have been manyIm ready to see Godbegin to work His higher purposes. 9). Its food; I need a snack,I thought. He wants us to honor him with our daily choices and overall lifestyle. This is why its so dangerous to make serious decisions based upon whether or not you feel happy. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and is the source of power and comfort for believers. God has written his law on our hearts (Romans 2:15). The reason God put such a high premium on the pleasures that we have in him, even at the cost of great pain to us in the dark seasons of our life, is that no other pleasures can satisfy us eternally, and no other pleasures can glorify God forever. Your work was never intended to be the source of your security. Our problem is that we pursue the lesser pleasures in life. Or what if he means that God desires you to get up off the couch and play with your children when you are tired more than he desires for you to have the pleasure of resting while you neglect your children? It is God's desire that each of us live in HIs kingdom here and now. This is Hebrews 12:11: For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.. This is amazing. Without knowingit, I begin toworshipthe false gods of comfort,money, pleasure, and things. This is the most important sentence: Holiness is the condition of heart in which God is our greatest happiness. If we dont, then we become partly responsible for the worlds tragic and widespread misperception that Christianity takes away happiness, instead of bringing it. Its sleep; I need more sleep,I thought. When you do, you will find the power to . This year was the year that all of our kids would be full time in school and I could start a career. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world. Whenever we obey a command of God in faith, he sets us free or keeps us free from the blinding, oppressive, destructive slavery of sin and increases our capacity for joy. Hebrews 12 describes the discipline of God toward his children like Megan conceives it. Some of them do this by hammering in a more spiritual sounding point, something along the lines of "God is more interested in you being holy . And then God created us to be happy. Dying to ourself doesnt seem like a pleasure seeking move. The second point is I have been teaching many of these nuggets about trusting God; doing His will; accepting what He allows; staying focused .I admit, it is much easier to tell others but when our rubber meets the road whoa. Five was what wed agreed to. The Bible says, Serve the Lord with gladness (Psalm 100:2). This time it comes in the form of an email from a listener named Megan. I felt I had obeyed God enough with my womb, pregnancy was difficult for me, and I wanted my body back. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. The devil does not want you to know or believe any of this. God does want all of us to be happy. It was a death to self. One opportunity after another to trust Him. Shes treating holiness as one thing, which God pursues through dark seasons and thats exactly right and she is treating happiness as a separate thing, which God seems to be neglecting in those seasons of darkness. He is author of. I think we have the wrong view of pleasure. First, I will admit that I was a little envious that you were blessed with 6 babies. You follow me!. Dont slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. Now, notice a couple things. And when something is wrong (or simply stupid), God says "don't do it" - even if it was . Because happiness is an emotion, it can come and go. (John 17:1314). When we put our hands to the plow of our Christian lives, we cannot leave prayer behind. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your fathers desires (John 8:44). The Bible says to do your acts of mercy with cheerfulness (Romans 12:8). Praise God He calls us to higher things and a glorious eternity. Feelings are fair and valid. I am encouraged to read your words. This is God's goal for us, even when things aren't going the way you want them to go. The devil wants you to believe that God is withholding joy from you in the limitations he places on you. Who in their right mind wouldnt want to obey this commandment? Isnt that wonderful? Despising Gods gifts is an insult to God himself (97, 98). I want to know wh, This Thursday, May 18, 2023, marks 40 days since R, All six of our children had adjustments and challe, Why is it that one of lifes most difficult rela, Some of my favorite people in the whole world: my. When he says the discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, hes not suggesting that the discipline doesnt hurt. And was God pleased or displeased when they did? Many people today believe that Gods ultimate goal is to make us happy. But it is not a sadistic cosmic Auschwitz created by a divine despot. So I would want to be very careful before I passed any judgment on this pastor for the sentence, God desires our obedience more than our happiness.. The study, which analyzed data Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) recently conducted a two-day raid in the city of Jenin in an effort to curb the wave of terrorism that had claimed the lives of over 50 Israelis and caused numerous injuries in the past year. They all flow into each other. How would it affect our approach to sharing the gospel? The world is a confusing place right now. Mathew B. Sims is the editor-in-chief at 360 Quote LLC and has authored, edited, and contributed to several books, including A Household Gospel; We Believe: Creeds, Confessions, & Catechisms for Worship; Make, Mature, Multiply; A Guide for Advent; and A Guide for Holy Week. These two dont seem to go together. He wants you to have the joy of the gospel. Because the work that God wants to do in us is always heart work. Ive heard the contrastjoy versus happinessmany times. This greatest of all commandments opens the door to the heaven of heavens what Jonathan Edwards described as a world of love where we experience the fulfillment of our deepest longings: the fullest joy and pleasures forever (Psalm 16:11). And what do we mean in our preaching? The Bible says, Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16). All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. So lusting after what this world offers and seeking to find total fulfillment and happiness in it is idolatry. Christs response? When it felt inconvenient. This truth completely transforms a Christians pursuit of happiness. I want my teens to remember that when we . They would pass each other in the hall and one (I wont even say which one said which) said to the other, Love Jesus. And the other would say back, Obey Jesus. And they really did have a little controversy about where the note should be struck. However I think we have been focusing on the wrong thing. To put it another way, holiness is the newness of the human heart that no longer finds sin and self more desirable than God and goodness. But now God was asking me to die to self. God blessed me with only one child, although I have prayed for more. Hes working with people who have a thousand experiences of pleasure and happiness that are not rooted in God. The one that saw and experienced the worst that the world could throw at Him could be described as the "happiest man ever.". All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. Several years earlier, God asked me to do something else I didn't want to do. He sees us, too, when we arent looking for Him. God wanted his love to triumph over our hate (Romans 5:8). So I must be careful, and we must all be careful not to jump to judgment without defining terms. I'm not saying we give up something on this earth to get something better on this earth. Lets run hard and fast, courageously toward what He asks us to do. Years of living have taught me that the unexpected is always an opportunity to experience more of who God is. Does God want me to be happy or holy? But we each must be careful that we don't look to people . Whatever makes me happy must beright. God disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. And you can too. Once again your words, and Holy Spirit leading, have touched my heart and life. Get daily encouragement from Kyle on Facebook and Twitter. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Alcorn, prolific author and founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries, starts by asking the critical question, Does God want us to be happy? The way a Christian answers that question will ultimately color everything else surrounding the conversation. When I took my eyes off myself and glanced up, I saw a good God, a safe GodI can say yes to, no matter what Hes calling me to. Several years earlier, God asked me to do something else I didnt want to do. This is love! Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. The fires were cresting right across the road from us with nothing but fuel to make the already out of control fires more massive. In keeping this commandment there is truly a great reward (Psalm 19:11). For over a decade, The Jesus Storybook Bible has been introducing children to God's wonderful story, and the Savior at the center of that story. If we are in Christ, then God has saved us from our sins in the past, and he will save us from his wrath in the future. In the end weve been able to spend time with my brother (which is so nice in these quarantined times) and our home remains in tact. But in what sense is he saving us right now? Such is the insanity and tragedy of sin. Thats true because holiness consists precisely in the heart forsaking the fleeting pleasures of sin and growing in the enjoyment of the permanent pleasures of God. Recommend to friends. Don't get me wrong. It was hard to put my desires aside. Barbara, Barbara, thank you for sharing your feelings, so vulnerable and raw. Not only that but he is the one of the 4 who lives close by. God wants us to be holy, because he wants us to be happy for more than a brief moment. 52:7 ). Here's a quick rundown of the top stories on charismamag.com: Breaking Free: Ex-Astrologer's Fight Against Witchcraft https://youtu.be/oBNQmwr6fL0 Tailah Scroggins, once immersedin the world of the occult, astrology and New Age practices, has experienced a https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sevvSI7Eb2s The baptism with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues are important aspects of the Christian faith. Hope, of course, is a joyful emotion. Happiness depends on circumstances,joy transcends circumstances. We must be careful that we don't look to people, possessions, or life circumstances to give us wellbeing. But, were feeling this pull Thank you for the encouragement!! These are not the manipulative words of a dysfunctional father meant to guilt his children into doing what he wants. According to psychology professor Sonja Lyubomirsky, author of The How of Happiness, about half our happiness is what we're born with - some people are just naturally happier than others.Life circumstances, including income, account for just 10 per cent of our total reported happiness, leaving a lot to play for. He dispels this myth by looking at historical and biblical usage rooting joy and happiness in Jesus Christ. Help TGC bring biblical wisdom to the confusing issues across the world by making a gift to our international work. I was free! Such a question is really vital. Neeta, Neeta The structure, especially early on, resembles a systematic theology. But in what sense is he saving us right now? It is 200-proof Christian Hedonism. The latest breaking Christian news you need to know about as soon as it happens. God wants us to obey him out of love, not fear of condemnation (1 John 4:18). We must simply make clear at every point: What does the Bible mean? Im saying that we should take each gift from God and see it as just that a gift. Friends Who Liked This Quote. But God wants you to hear his love in his commands, especially his greatest command. I believe everyone has a desire to be happy. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. When it felt uncomfortable. knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope (Romans 5:34).