You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. –Psalm 16:11 NIV
There’s an old song that says, “Make someone happy, make just one someone happy, then you will be happy too.” Makes a nice song, but aren’t those lyrics all backward? We can’t “make” someone happy; happiness has to come from within the person. Each of us are responsible for our own happiness and our own heart. If we’re waiting on another person to do it for us, it’s going to be a long, bumpy ride.Happiness is a choice. Happiness depends on circumstances, which are up one minute and down the next. However, joy, which brings happiness, isn’t phased by temporary situations. You can be happy when nothing seems to be going right, if joy is your foundation. Happiness is simply having peace in your heart that One greater than you will work all things together for your good (see Romans 8:28). Like a hand in a glove, joy and happiness fit together. You can’t determine anyone else’s heart or happiness, but you can be the one to help them find peace. Choosing joy brings happiness that doesn’t need perfect circumstances to exist. How do we find this joy? In a relationship with Jesus Christ! Make someone happy? In Christ, you will be happy, too.
Seek wisdom and joy.
Happiness will follow. Life isn’t lived victoriously through feelings. Living by faith brings joy.