The theme of a happy life is very ancient and has always been present in the world. The Lord has always desired to have a happy people. But there are other forces that seek to distort the truth, portraying Christianity as something gloomy, dark, and stern. According to this view, the more solemn a believer looks, the more convincing his testimony to his faith appears. This stereotype has become so deeply embedded in the minds of people in the world, leaving such a profound impression, that it has also influenced the thinking of those who belong to God’s church.
There is another extreme as well, in which God’s law is nullified and the Creator Himself is portrayed as permissive and as saving everyone indiscriminately. All these ideas distort God’s true character and give us a very strange picture of the Most High.
There is a story about a preacher who was expected to arrive in a certain city, and representatives of the church went to meet him at the train station. They did not know what he looked like and instinctively searched for him among the arriving passengers. Then they saw a somber-faced man dressed in black. After greeting him, they took him by the arms, intending to lead him to their car. It turned out that he was not the preacher. The man was on his way to a funeral.
As we have studied the laws of a happy life, we have seen that we have a very happy God, Who desires all of us to be happy. In the message to Laodicea, the Faithful Witness reproves us for being miserable, making it clear that this is a very poor state of mind amid an abundance of light. He offers us something to buy that provides a way out of this condition. Through these symbols, the Lord gives us Himself. Jesus personally comes to each one of us to teach us happiness, and He promises us an exciting future.
With such an abundance of opportunities and light, to remain unhappy is a sin that will destroy many people. But if I decide to receive blessedness, I am destined to possess it for the rest of my earthly days and throughout Eternity.
I remember meeting a family at a camp meeting. Sister Lilia had brought her teenage daughter, hoping that the girl would find friends there or want to take part in some missionary project. But it was evident that her daughter was far removed from her mother’s plans and had her own views on life. Her unusual hairstyle and black clothing suggested that she belonged to some movement in which that style was customary. I tried to find common interests and a way to connect with the girl, but something stood in the way, and we parted until the following year.
The next year, only the mother came to the camp meeting. Lilia was as gloomy as a storm cloud, and her appearance filled others with sadness. She did not want to speak with anyone about anything. It was clear that she was experiencing some form of depression. I asked her friend what had happened and learned that Lilia’s daughter had taken her own life six months earlier. It is very painful to hear of such experiences. But we have Jesus, Who can help even in a situation like this. All my attention became focused on this sister. I asked for wisdom and strength from above so that I might somehow help this poor woman, and I began talking with her. Lilia listened with tears in her eyes as I told her what the Lord placed upon my lips. I spoke about God’s love, happiness, freedom, and many other things. Then I began assuring Lilia that Jesus desired to give her happiness and fill her life with joy, preserving her in that condition until His Second Coming. It was so remarkable to watch the change in this sister’s mood. She began to smile and ask questions. Her face was transformed, and joy in the Lord found a place in her heart. In the end, she and her friend looked very much like two sunflowers basking in the rays of God’s love, rejoicing in life and giving their smiles to the world. Whenever I happened to meet them, I heard words of praise and gratitude to the Lord.
The study of love and happiness is wonderful because everyone who decides to pursue it discovers many laws that benefit the soul and makes remarkable discoveries for the heart. What makes this study unique is that God Himself extends His hand and gives the students exactly what they desire to learn. This is a process of spiritual growth, and it does not happen in a single day, but gradually and consistently.
It is also worth recognizing that being happy is an act of courage even within the church. You will not be understood even by those who live according to the commonly accepted belief that happiness does not exist and that there are only temporary joys amid the gray routine of the Christian life.
But when we go to a worship service, we do not come to bury someone; we come to worship the One Who desires to give us happiness and Who has done everything to make it simple and accessible.
Yet even when you know everything about happiness and live in it, you should be very careful in expressing your emotions. Many people simply will not understand you and will begin to treat you like a traitor.
The best support at such a time is the teaching of Christ and His life. Jesus said that if they persecuted Him, they would also persecute us. Everything that happened to Jesus may also happen in my life, and when it does, I remember that the Lord endured a similar trial. Then it becomes easier for me. I am simply following in His footsteps.
The enemy of souls seeks to discourage and deceive me, but the example of Jesus’ life always gives me strength to understand correctly what is happening.
Satan desires to convince me that happiness does not exist because the Lord suffered greatly and we must suffer with Him. There was suffering, and there was death, and all of it was in my place. This is worth remembering, but it is also important to understand that the Lord died so that I might be happy.
My happiness is always with me, bringing joy to my heart and giving itself to those around me. Love teaches me to live by it and always remain connected with Heaven so that I may put love into everything I do.
When difficult people or challenging situations appear, the Lord reminds me of everything I have learned and experienced in fellowship with Him. And I choose the best response—to love.
The decision to love is not always an easy choice, because my old nature is also present. It always wants to settle everything according to the flesh, sends me its offers of assistance, or distracts my mind from holy things. And so I struggle with myself.
But if I have formed the habit of feeding my spiritual nature every day while starving the carnal nature, it becomes easier for me to live according to the Spirit and the truth, and in that very Spirit to love those around me.
A happy smile attracts attention. It communicates that there is something special in my heart. And a joyful spirit gives me away and tries to spread its joy to everyone around me.
As I studied the laws of happiness, I paid attention to everything related to happiness, immersed myself in individual Bible verses, and discovered new depths. But I also realized that when I had previously read those same verses in an ordinary way, I had not even noticed how my thoughts skimmed over them. I did not fully grasp what I was reading or what the passage was about. Yet there is such depth there that one can go deeper and deeper.
The Bible says a great deal about happiness and love, but this becomes visible and understandable only when—and only to those who—thirst for it. The Water of Life benefits everyone, but it is extraordinarily sweet to those who long to drink even a single sip so that they will not die. And God pours out His Spirit upon the thirsty and the parched. And I am happy.
Bible verses for this chapter:
John 15:16–21; Isaiah 44:2–4; 55:1–6; 60:1–5; Psalm 1:1–6; 34:8; 84:4–7; Job 5:17; Revelation 3:18