Dear People Who Keep Company With God,

We all have heard that happiness is tied to circumstance and that is true in the world, but not necessarily true in the Kingdom of God. The Scriptures testify, “Happy is he who trusts in the Lord” (Prov. 16:20). In other words God is telling us the very foundation for our relationship with Him, trusting Him will make us happy. 

happiness photoWe all desire to be happy or use whatever words you like such as glad, fulfilled or delighted. We may not agree on what brings happiness, but deep down in our hearts we all desire and need to be happy. And this desire is not bad. It is valid. It is from God because God Himself is happy and He created us to be like Him.

This is so clearly illustrated in the life of George Mueller, the renowned British apostolic leader in the 1800’s who is best known for his orphan ministry. He attributed happiness as a key to the amazing work he accomplished. He built five large orphan houses and cared for 10,024 orphans in his life. When he started in 1834 there were accommodations for 3,600 orphans in all of England and twice that many children under eight were in prison. One of the great effects of Mueller’s ministry was to inspire others so that “fifty years after he began his work, at least one hundred thousand orphans were cared for in England alone.”  

Mueller wrote, “I saw more clearly than ever that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not how much I might serve the Lord, or how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished.”

Since we all seek to be happy the source or the way we seek happiness is most important. “Happy is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gets understanding” (Prov. 3:13). Those who find wisdom and get understanding find the true happiness that we all are longing for. 

True happiness is what wisdom will bring, because not all happiness comes from heavenly wisdom. “Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment” (Prov. 15:21). Our desire for happiness motivates us more than we know, and if we do not have the wisdom to seek happiness in God, then we will find whatever substitutes we can in the world.  

The sources where people seek happiness apart from God are countless. Alcohol, drugs, sex, popularity, self-image, career, intelligence, spirituality, possessions and money are some of the typical things we think will give us true happiness. The happiness that these things bring does not last very long at all. Seeking happiness apart from God leaves us dissatisfied, frustrated, and incomplete, knowing that there must be something more.

Thankfully the Bible is clear on how to get wisdom from heaven so we can be happy – ask for it (James 1:5-8). This is illustrated in how Solomon became the wisest man to ever live.

The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” Note God wanted him to ask. Solomon’s answer pleased the Lord, “Give me an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil.”

The Lord gave Solomon a wise and understanding heart plus He gave him what he didn’t ask for, riches and honor (1 Kings 3:5-14). 

Many Blessings, BW

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