HAPPINESS- A RESORT OF JOYFULNESS
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:22).
Often times, when people aren’t happy or excited about themselves or about life, it’s for one simple reason: they’ve ignored the Word of God. Your happiness as a Christian isn’t dependent on your circumstances or situation. Happiness is one of the results of joyfulness, and joyfulness is a fruit of your recreated human spirit, nourished through the Word of God.
Your joy is like fire; and when there’s no fuel to fire, it burns out. In the same way, those who ignore the Word have their joy short-lived. If you ever find yourself disoriented, what you need is to stay in the Word. Interpret and respond to situations on the basis of God’s Word.
Your happiness shouldn’t be because things are going on smoothly; it shouldn’t be dependent on the good things going on with you or around you. Otherwise, those who live in the best houses, and have the best things of life will be the happiest people in the world. But this isn’t the case. There’re people who have committed suicide while others wondered, “What could have gone wrong? Everything was all right; he had the best family, he had the best job, he had enough money, he was voted the most respected man in the community. Why in the world did he kill himself?” What they probably didn’t realize is that happiness doesn’t come from any of those things. It’s one of the blessings that joy produces in you: joy that only comes through the Word and the Spirit of God.
Your happiness is your responsibility. You have to make yourself happy continually, because your happy spirit dictates everything about your life. If for any reason, you’re feeling downcast or unhappy, get into the Word and fan the embers of your joy.
Further Study:
Philippians 4:4; 1 Peter