The Pursuit Of Happiness

I have been dogged by one of those statements that someone will make occasionally that will stick in your mind and on your conscience forever it seems like, those statements that make you just say hmmm... Some time a ago a relationship I was in ended with the person saying that they were not happy and they wanted to pursue their happiness. On the surface there is nothing wrong with that but being the thinker I am I had to take it to the next level and ask what does that statement really mean? How do you define happiness and what makes a person happy? It's obvious it's different for each individual or maybe it's not?

Recently this interest was perked once again by 2 articles I read on the subject, one by noted author and pastor, Rick Warren, and another by a personal friend, Dwight Rodgers, who also is an author and pastor. "Happiness is feeling good about what is happening in your life. Happiness is not popularity, which is how others feel about you, happiness is what you think about you." writes Pastor Rodgers. I couldn't agree more. Happiness that is dependent upon what others think of me is fleeting because others opinion of me is constantly changing.

Adding to that are the thoughts expressed by Pastor Warren who makes a distinction between happiness and joy. "Don't settle for happiness", he says, "aim for joy." Phillipians 3:1 says," Whatever happens, dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord give you joy …” Philippians 3:1 (NLT). "Joy comes from within", Pastor Warren continues, " joy is not dependent upon the people in your life, or the possessions you accumulate, or what’s happening at this point in your life. God says you’ll find joy, when you trust that he’s in control and working to use the good – and the bad – of your life for a greater purpose."

The apostle Paul certainly understood this truth as he wrote many of his most encouraging words while in the worst of circumstances. In prison, chained to a guard and alone in a foreign city he was constantly encouraging others to receive God's joy. Was he happy in his circumstances? I have to believe he was not, but He was full of joy because of who He lived for and who lived in him. We sing a song in our worship service that simply says "Be full of joy, be full of joy, be full of joy in the Lord always." Pastor Warren says, "Happiness is overrated. On the other hand, joy is often forgotten." I encourage you to seek to "Be full of joy."

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