If you’ve read my through many of my blog posts you probably have noticed a theme. I like to look at two topics; positions or words that may seem to be the same but could be vastly different. Today is no different. I hear a lot of people talk about happiness as though it was the utlimate goal in life. And while that might be what people really truly want, they are not going to find it. Maybe it’s splitting hairs and I am being presumptive but happiness is not what you are looking for. Nor is happiness what your friends, family, coworkers or neighbors are searching out in life.
Happiness as defined by webster is a : a state of well-being and contentment; b : a pleasurable or satisfying experience.
Happiness is temporary, fleeting, passing, fading, short-termed etc. It is not something that lasts beyond the moment we are in. It is an emotion and for us as humans emotions betray us. We are ecstatic one moment and in ‘the dumps’ a few minutes later. We truly are fickle beings.
Really, happiness feeds our ego. Happiness is ripe with selfishness. Not always, but most of the time. If you stop to think about the emotion of happiness it is always dictated by our perception of what is going on. If we approve we are happy. If we disapprove or are disappointed by an outcome we have other emotions.
Happiness is strictly based on the experience of the moment and if we choose to live only in the moment, by the moment then our life will be a Jeckyll & Hyde existence. Up and down.
As humans we need something more to anchor our life to. We need something that goes beyond the emotions of the here and now. When a friend or loved one passes away we aren’t happy. When our favorite sports team loses we are not happy. And if we live for happiness we will be disappointed much of life.
Where does this leave us? For me I’ve tried to live my life with joy. Unfortunately joy and happiness tend to be used synonymously. But joy is much different. Joy is: a source or cause of delight (webster).
Joy comes from something beyond ourselves. Joy comes from knowing whether the day is good or bad (basis of happiness) we can live a life full. Joy comes from knowing a Truth that goes beyond ourselves, it is a basis for life.
For me joy comes from my Lord Jesus Christ. I hold Jesus to be Truth. I believe he is the source of my joy. Knowing that my life is grounded in something or I should say someone other than myself, who I believe created me is knowing that my life has greater purpose. I am not bound to the everday happenings of the world. I don’t have to live on the wave of emotion looking for the next ‘it’ that will bring me happiness. Why because I believe in someone greater than myself.
You might be saying to yourself “I have belief in someone other than yourself (government, spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, family etc).”
Here’s the problem: All of these are human and will let you down. There is not one human being alive today that will always choose right. There is not one organization or government that is reliable every day. Only a belief in God can bring the stability of true joy.
Does that mean I can’t experience happiness? No. I still experience the ups and downs of life BUT it doesn’t affect me in the long term. I am happy when my four year old learns to write a new letter of the alphabet. I am happy that my nine year old daughter finally rode her big bike and liked it. I was sad when our bunny rabbit was accidentaly crushed and killed. I was sad to hear that a woman had jumped off the I5 bridge last night. But none of these guide my life. Because I choose to live out of the joy Jesus Christ gives rather than the emotion of the day.
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