Happiness

Let’s take care of the negatives first. Acquiring happiness is no easy task. Some song lyrics are of very little help. One example might be Freddy Prinze’s song “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” Egocentric people are very seldom pleased with any situation. It has been proven that happiness cannot be earned.

The wise people of the Bible have given us facts and advice concerning happiness. Happy are the ones who listen to and heed words of wisdom like the ones spoken by the wise King Solomon (2 Chron. 9:7). The one who has mercy on the poor will be happy (Prov. 14:21). Happy are the couples with families and laughing children (Ps. 137:5). The person who keeps the law of God and the law of the land will be happy (Prov. 29:18). There will be an absence of guilt and nothing to fear now in our future. Very happy is the person who trusts God to guide and protect them (Ps. 144:15). Worry will not latch onto our back like a back pack. A happy person can feel good about doing what they thought was right and not negatively second guess themselves (Rom. 14:22). Happiness follows the person who has a mind and attitude to understand instead of keeping a set mind (Prov. 3:13).

Norman V. Peale through a lifetime found that happiness is the byproduct of finding someone who needs help and helping them. One example is the fourth grade class at Shawneetown, IL. The students were dull and listless. To cure this, the teacher had the class journey across the street to the nursing home. Each student was assigned a person. They listened to the residents’ life stories. Students eagerly wrote down their biography. The fourth graders returned to school to organize their papers. A couple of weeks later, the children joyously skipped back to the nursing home. Singly, each student proudly but tentatively read their story to the entire nursing home through the PA system. Real happiness appeared on their faces and enthusiasm returned for their studies.

Mrs. Esther Watkins was an elderly but spry lady. Her husband had passed away several years earlier. On days she felt depressed or felt sorry for herself, she would wash up and put on a clean print dress and go out to visit those who she knew were homebound. By evening, she would return home her own happy self. Happiness comes as a byproduct of helping others.

Joy is one of the gifts given by the Holy Spirit. Happiness is an abbreviated form of joy. Happiness is brief, while joy resides deeper in our personality and remains when outward circumstances have begun to unravel or get difficult.