If you want to be happy, don’t chase happiness. Instead, pursue righteousness.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
The word “blessed” can be translated as “truly happy.” Therefore, those who are truly happy are those who yearn for and seek after righteousness. This truth led Martyn Loyd-Jones to say the following in his book, Spiritual Depression,
“Seek for happiness, and you will never find it, seek righteousness, and you will discover you are happy—it will be there without you knowing it, without your seeking it.” – Martyn Loyd-Jones
The word translated as “Righteousness” means doing what God requires. So, those who do what God requires will be blessed or happy! But, Romans 3:10-12 says; “None is righteous, no, not one; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
If no one is righteous, and happiness accompanies righteousness, or as Jesus says satisfaction comes to the happy through righteousness, what then do we do?
Paul writes a few verses later in Romans 3:21-25 saying, “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forth as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.”
God grants righteousness to those who have faith in Christ. Just like he credited righteousness to Abraham when he followed Him by faith. Romans 4:3 “For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to Him as righteousness.”
Your emotions don’t save you, your belief in the truth of Christ and God’s Word is what leads to salvation. Romans 10:11 says that; “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.” And, Romans 10:13 says “For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”
True and supreme joy and satisfaction are found in the person of Jesus Christ.
I have three daughters. It’s normal for “Child A” to be upset at “Child B” for taking her toy away. When this happens, its “Child A” begins to cry because she is hurt and upset. But, if “Child B” gives the toy back she is not comforted. When she is hurt and broken, “Child A” consistently cries out for mommy or daddy because real comfort and peace is found in a person and not in a toy.
The same is true for all of us. The things of this world do not satisfy or bring true joy. The world may contribute to a sense of happiness, but it isn’t lasting, and it isn’t complete. However, in Christ, you have a relationship with God that produces joy and satisfaction in your life.
Joy and satisfaction are not a matter of feeling, but of truth. In Christ, you find the way the truth and the life. In Christ, you find grace and forgiveness for your sin. In Christ, you find the one who died in your place, as a propitiation, for your sins. In Christ, you find the love of God on display and in relationship toward you. In Christ, you are saved and receive eternal life and adoption into the family of God because of your faith. In Christ you receive joy. A joy that is greater than the happiness you find in your self, circumstances, or others. In Christ, you find a joy that you can express regardless of your situation. A joy you can cling to because you can cling to the unchanging truth and person of Christ. So, taste and see that the Lord is good. Lift up your head from your despair and see the King of Glory, the Lord strong and mighty… and who is this King of Glory? He is the Lord of hosts, the Son of God, the Lamb who came to take away the sin of the world. He is the one who saves, the one we love, the one we live for, and the one we worship with all that we are and all that we have. He is Jesus Christ!