“Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty” (Job 5:17).

Just about everyone living is looking for true happiness in their lives. Some find it but there are those whose search will end up completely empty. There are those whose life will end in sorrow because they didn’t know how or where to find true happiness. Their search for the joy of life will come up empty because they accept temporary happiness instead of striving to find joy. Unfortunately, they leave this realm not having a full concept of how God wants to make our lives complete in the thrill of His joy.

The psalmist reveals truth about the blessings of embracing God’s love so that our search for true happiness can be fruitful: “How blessed are the people who are so situated; how blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!” (Psalm 144:15). “Blessed” is translated from the Hebrew word that means “to be made happy.” If we search for true happiness outside of God we will surely fail. God created the bodies we live in and His will has given us everything we need to make us happy (2 Pet 1:3). The trouble is our fleshly desires that overrun our spiritual desire to live in a godly manner. We must listen to God if we want to be happy: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world– our faith” (1 John 5:4). Don’t let the world try to tell you how to be happy because they just don’t know. Have faith in God, who gives everything good, and let true happiness be revealed to you through the love He provides.

David reminds us again how to find true happiness in this physical body. He shows happiness doesn’t come from trusting in the flesh’s idea of happiness or even in his friends who remain as slaves the desires of flesh. His happiness was assured through his faith in God: “My lovingkindness and my fortress, My stronghold and my deliverer, My shield and He in whom I take refuge” (Psalm 144:2). True joy can only be attained through the assurance given in the protection of God’s love.

Our happiness can only be found in the same manner. We must trust in God to bring true joy to an otherwise sorrowful life. Paul found this joy as he wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Even though the circumstances in which Paul found himself were not ideal, he knew his reason to rejoice was in the Lord. What an example for us to follow. Deny the fleshly desire of a vain search for physical happiness and be led by the Spirit of God into the true happiness of eternal life.

— Cub Orcutt

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *