I Just Want You To Be Happy

June 1, 2024 Greg McNichols

The full video of this teaching is available at the bottom of this post and this link.

I am the biggest fan of happiness you’re ever going to find! I absolutely love that feeling we get when our brain releases the drugs. Dopamine gives us that rush of excitement, while serotonin makes us feel content with whatever sparked our moment of happiness. Then, endorphins boost our mood even further and act as natural painkillers. This God-given chemical mix lights up the reward centers of our brains, and I LOVE IT! And so do you!

LITTLE LEAGUE AND ICE CREAM

When I was a kid in Little League, and the final out was made for a win, we would all burst into cheers, our gloves flying in the air. I LOVED the feeling of the teams lining up along the baseline, high-fiving the other team as we walked past each other, saying, "Good game." But in my head, I'd think, "Your team stinks!" Oh, that made me feel amazing! The thrill of victory, the camaraderie with my teammates, and that secret, braggadocious thought. Those moments are unforgettable.

After each win, the Coach would yell, "Dairy Queen for the team!" When I got my vanilla cone dipped in chocolate, it was like holding a trophy in my hand. The first bite was pure magic—the chocolate shell cracked perfectly, and the creamy vanilla inside melted in my mouth. I felt on top of the world, sitting with my teammates, our hands sticky from the melting cone, rehashing plays that won the game. I absolutely loved feeling happy then, and I love it just as much today.

JESUS NEVER SAID IT

Jesus never said the American colloquialism, "I just want you to be happy." But he does want you to be happy! He is the one who created the emotion and the chemical dump. The emotion of happiness is not a result of humankind's fall in Genesis. No. That happy feeling that wells up inside of us is a gift from God, and we should all celebrate it!

In American vernacular, "happy" refers to that fleeting feeling based on current circumstances. It’s the chase after that chemical dump: ice cream, wins, influxes of wealth, sexual escapades, promotions, and entertainment, to name a few. In the Bible, however, happiness is deeper, aligning with being "blessed" or experiencing lasting "joy" that isn't dependent on external factors.

The Bible uses several terms for this:

Makarios (Greek): Translated as "blessed" or "happy," it refers to inner joy and contentment from being in right relationship with God, as seen in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12).

Ashre (Hebrew): Also translated as "blessed" or "happy," it conveys well-being and fulfillment from living according to God's will, like in Psalm 1:1, "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked."

Chara (Greek): Meaning "joy," it refers to a deep, abiding happiness rooted in one's relationship with God, not circumstances. Philippians 4:4 captures this: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"

While the Bible acknowledges transient emotions, it emphasizes a lasting joy from a spiritual foundation. This joy is a profound gift from God, enduring through life's ups and downs, providing steady contentment and peace.

WHERE IS OUR FOCUS

Everywhere we look, messages tell us that true happiness comes from our gadgets, possessions, and social status at school or work. But here's the catch—this kind of happiness is like a vanilla ice cream cone sugar rush. It feels great for a moment but quickly fades, leaving you craving more. Many Christians find themselves stuck in this cycle, always reaching for the next ice cream cone of life. And when we get that cone, it’s fantastic. But when the circumstances change, well, watch the video below to see the illustration.

The American search for happiness often focuses on ourselves as we strive to create as many consecutive "ice cream cone" moments as possible. In contrast, biblical joy shifts the focus to our relationship with God. While moments of happiness come and go, our abiding joy remains throughout life's journey, regardless of circumstances.

BIBLICAL JOY ILLUSTRATED

In John 16:16-24, Jesus speaks to His disciples about His impending departure and the joy that will follow His resurrection. He tells them that soon they will not see Him, but they will see Him again, and their sorrow will turn into joy. Jesus uses the analogy of a woman in labor, experiencing intense pain but soon forgetting it because of the joy that a child is born into the world. He reassures His disciples that their grief will turn to joy, a joy that no one can take away.

This passage beautifully illustrates the concept of biblical joy. The disciples would face a temporary period of sorrow, but Jesus promised them an enduring joy rooted in their relationship with Him would remain. This joy was not dependent on their circumstances but was a profound and lasting gift from God. Similarly, our lives will have moments of happiness and sorrow, but the joy from knowing and following Jesus remains constant. This abiding joy (unlike the fleeting happiness of chasing "ice cream cone" moments) is a deep-seated joy that sustains us through all circumstances.

JOY AND SIN

When chasing the "ice cream cones" of life includes sin; it not only leads to fleeting happiness but also robs us of biblical joy. Sin may provide a momentary thrill or satisfaction. Still, it disrupts our faith and relationships, disrupting our God-given joy. Instead of experiencing lasting contentment and peace, we find ourselves caught in a cycle of guilt, shame, and unfulfilled desires. When we prioritize temporary pleasures, especially those that go against God's teachings, we sacrifice the profound, unshakeable joy He offers us.

We see this illustrated in the story Jesus told of the prodigal son. The younger son chased after his own "ice cream cones" of life. He experienced fleeting happiness for a while, but it quickly faded, leaving him destitute and alone. When his circumstances changed, he realized that his pursuit of temporary satisfaction had led him away from the true joy and security found in his father's house. Only when he returned to his father, seeking forgiveness and restoration, did he experience genuine joy and acceptance. Sinful moments of happiness rob us of the deep, enduring joy that comes from being in a right relationship with God. Like the prodigal son, when we turn away from our selfish pursuits and return to our Heavenly Father, we find the true, lasting joy He longs to give us.

JESUS’ BROTHER TEACHES MATH

In the book of James, the brother of Jesus presents a radical perspective. He says to "count it all joy" when encountering various trials (James 1:2). This idea can be understood through an accounting concept, where you have two columns: expenses and income. Most people naturally place hardships, struggles, and challenges in the expense column, viewing them as losses or setbacks. However, James challenges us to rethink this approach and instead place these trials in the income column.

When we chase after fleeting American happiness, we tend to see trials and difficulties as obstacles. They are marked as expenses, but James encourages us to view these hardships differently. He tells us to see them as opportunities for growth and maturity, putting them in the income column. James is saying that the very things we often perceive as detracting from our happiness are adding to our abiding joy. When we do math like James teaches, our joy does not depend on our circumstances.

WHY SHOULD WE CARE SO MUCH ABOUT HAPPINESS?

You have a choice: to be like the rich young ruler or like Paul and Silas in prison. The rich young ruler rejected a relationship with Jesus for his temporary, material happiness. He walked away sad, unable to relinquish his fleeting pleasures and possessions. On the other hand, despite facing unfair persecution and imprisonment, Paul and Silas experienced abiding joy. One path leads to temporary satisfaction and ultimate emptiness, while the other offers lasting fulfillment and a joy that no circumstance can take away. Choose the joy that abides, strengthens, and sustains through every trial and triumph.

God cares about your happiness, but He will never give you happiness at the expense of joy! This means that while God values our happiness, He prioritizes our deeper, more enduring joy over fleeting or superficial pleasures. God's ultimate concern is for our long-term well-being and fulfillment in Him (joy), which may often require sacrificing immediate or temporary pleasures (happiness). Our focus should always be on the importance of spiritual and emotional depth in Christ rather than short-term gratification.