Emotions

In Pursuit of Happiness

Joe and Jane Average enjoyed what most people would call a good start in life. They had each received excellent educations, and after they were married got jobs with promising futures. It wasn't long until children were born, and Jane was able to stay home with the kids full time.

If they had any complaint, it was that Joe's job was very demanding at times. Overall, though, they didn't mind and seemed to be able to squeeze in enough fun family activities to keep one step ahead of the stress. And as Joe's position in the company advanced, their lifestyle kept pace with the growing income.

Joe and Jane had each accepted Christ as their Savior as young people, and their commitment to Him had grown through the years. As parents, they did what they could to make sure their children enjoyed the same spiritual opportunities. Worship services and church activities were a priority, at least most of the time, and sometimes Joe taught a Sunday school class.

Anyone who saw them would have said they were doing well in all areas, and the Average family would have agreed. However, what happened next would change their lives forever . . . at least that's the expectation for a story like this one. But nothing spectacular or calamitous happened to the Averages. God did not allow them to go through any extreme time of suffering, though they had their share of frustrations and disappointments.

If Joe and Jane were completely honest, they would each confess a secret boredom with their lives. They weren't ungrateful, but even as believers, they found themselves quietly asking, "Is this all there is?" Life sometimes seemed mediocre, unfulfilling, and just plain average. Where was the bubbling joy and soaring ecstasy they were supposed to find in their relationships with Christ? They weren't consumed with materialism or irresponsible or shallow, like so many around them. But somehow, the deeper feeling of satisfaction in the Lord seemed to elude them.

Does this story sound familiar to you, plus or minus a few details? Do you have a silent heartache of longing for something more? What does "happiness" mean anyway, and is God interested in your emotional well-being? The answer is yes, He does, but the road to the kind of fulfillment the Lord wants you to have is contrary to ordinary, "common-sense" understanding. Happiness doesn't just happen, and it isn't the result of temporary emotions or momentarily pleasing circumstances.

In his book Lifemapping, Christian marriage and family counselor Dr. John Trent explains a vital principle: "Have you ever felt that you were 'spinning your wheels,' that you were merely existing, nor contributing something positive to God's kingdom? Or do you, in contrast, have a clear purpose that gets you up in the morning and inspires you to do your best all day long? . . .

"Everyone needs a clear idea of where he or she is headed . . . It may seem that there's no real cost to being aimless, but lack of purpose actually drains energy and life. Since that may sound like an exaggeration, let's look at a dramatic example of what I mean.

"In 1944-45, Dr. Viktor Frankl was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp. While observing hundreds of fellow prisoners during those terrible years, he made a startling observation: People could live through even the most deplorable conditions as long as they had a clear purpose to hold onto . . .

"Like it or not, how clearly we picture our future, both spiritually and physically, will directly affect our quality of life, and often its length as well!"

That is why the mission and pursuit of your life is such a critical issue. Scripture makes it clear that for the believer, to pursue happiness is to pursue Christ; there is no other equation. Where the question comes in for most of us is what that means for daily life. Obviously, "just getting by" spiritually isn't enough; a spiritually mediocre mindset leaves you flat and lifeless, without the passion for Him that Christ wants to build into your experience.

In 1 Timothy 6:6-10, the apostle Paul explains what does not constitute a worthy life goal. "But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment . . . But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

You've certainly heard these verses before, and they are a hearty warning about chasing the wrong things. There is no doubting the endless pain caused by wrong priorities, and many have been trapped before they know what is happening.

However, it is not enough to dwell on error and seek to avoid it. Asking God to help you not go down a certain path is only half the request. God created you with the need to achieve, to work, to aspire and dream and strive toward a God-given goal. His purpose is to replace your former drives with a Christ-centered vitality. The passage in 1 Timothy 6 doesn't end with a no. It finishes with the resounding yes of your mission in the Lord:

"But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses" (vs. 11-12).

The verbs here are ones of action. God does not intend for you to just sit around passively. That's what leads to feelings of discontentment, worthlessness, burnout, purposelessness, and unfulfillment. God created you to experience the satisfaction of a deep and joyful relationship with Him through Christ. He has given you the Holy Spirit, who guides you into all truth and gives you His wisdom and discernment. It's through His power that you are able to shift your focus away from the temporal and onto the eternal. (Colossians 3:1-4)

Be careful, though, not to misunderstand what it means to pursue eternal things. You can never earn or achieve a relationship with God by working at it hard enough. Salvation is by faith alone. (Romans 5:1-2) Furthermore, the evidence of salvation is produced through the power of the Holy Spirit; thus, the resulting traits of character are called the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-26) You cannot make yourself be more Christ-like through working hard at it; that growth happens naturally and is a reflection of your heart.

What difference do you think it would make in your life if when you woke up in the morning you said to yourself, "I am Christ's ambassador, ready to go out and be a part of His work for His kingdom. What do you want me to do today, God?" That's a pretty powerful mission statement. It's the highest one there can ever be, and no earthly motivation has any weight or merit in comparison.

You don't have to settle for less than the best. Do you understand that the riches of your inheritance in Christ aren't just for heaven, they are for right now today? True happiness isn't a myth or a condition reserved for the so-called spiritual elite - it's for you. And finding it is not a mystery; it's a matter of an adjustment in perspective.

Ask the Lord to implant His mission in your heart and invigorate your spirit with the wonder of His love each day. You will see the love of God at work, and the satisfaction of this glorious task knows no equal this side of heaven.