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“So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” John 16:22

Of all the phrases bestowed to us by the Founding Fathers, few come up more than pursuit of happiness. Yet who knows where the nation really stands on that score. Now an answer may be forthcoming. Amid a wave of research on the subject, the federal government is seeking ways to measure what some have called Gross National Happiness (GNH).

A panel of experts in psychology and economics began convening in December to try to define reliable measures of subjective well-being. If successful, these could become official statistics.

The idea of the government tallying personal feelings might seem frivolous or impossibly difficult. For decades, after all, the world has gotten by with gauging a nation’s quality of life on the basis of its GDP, or gross domestic product, the sum of its economic output. But economists and others have long recognized that GDP, a dollars and cents measure, doesn’t count everything that might be considered important when assessing living conditions. Our gross national product accepts that which makes life worthwhile.

But as the government ventures into the squishy realm of feelings, statisticians will first have to define happiness and then how to measure it. Neither is a trivial matter. There is even some doubt whether people, when polled, can accurately say whether they are happy. Personally I think they are on the wrong track.

Well, I have a suggestion. First they have to differentiate between happiness and joy. Happiness comes from without; joy comes from within. Happiness is often determined by our economic station in life. Joy comes from inner peace in our soul. Happiness focuses on the now; joy looks to eternity. Happiness comes on the mountain tops; joy is peace in the valleys of life.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning (Lamentation 3:22-23). Now that is the wellspring of true joy and the measuring stick for us all.

How to you define happiness? You spell it joy and it’s not something capable of external numerical evaluation since it comes from within and when you have it, no one needs to measure it because it becomes an obvious part of your daily life.

Questions: Are you living a life of happiness and joy? If not, what steps can you take today to move towards having joy?

Take the next step:
Discover your craving
You can know God today
Where is God when bad things happen?

Togetherness is a part of Christmas celebrations. Even with family squabbles, the Christmas season is packed with family functions. Spending time with family makes us happy. When stress plays a larger part in Christmas than family it’s hard to be joyful. Peace can be hard to come by in a busy household. This year, rediscover the joy of the season. Find out what really makes you happy this Christmas.

Take the next step:

Decorating on a small budget
Eating Christmas favourites without the guilt
Stay healthy over the Christmas season
Tips for stress-free company parties this season

In his autobiography Surprised by Joy C. S. Lewis describes the distinction between happiness and joy. Happiness is a temporary and fickle emotional state, whereas joy is knowing and understanding the purpose and meaning of our lives despite our temporary and fickle circumstances. This kind of joy is not self-delusion: It is belief based on knowledge, not feelings.

Elsewhere in his writings, Lewis said “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Do you value truth? Are you interested in a life of secure joy rather than unstable happiness? If you would like someone to pray for you, please contact us for prayer.

Related reading:
What does your soul crave? – Take our online interactive studies on the topic of soul cravings: Destiny, intimacy, and meaning
The Christian Hosoi Story – Known as “The Michael Jordan of skateboarding,” Christian Hosoi tells the story of his life, jail time, and search for contentment (with video)

A person can live their entire life allowing themselves to be defined by external circumstances or peer pressure. Who are you? Who do you desire to become?

Related:
“My self-esteem is at an all-time low.” – How can I restore my self-esteem?
Is there a “secret” to being a “happy person”? – Your happiness is in your own hands

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD , you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” Psalm 34:8-10

Just think – our God, who created the world and is Lord of all, wants us to find pleasure in our union with Him. His Word teaches us that He “richly supplies us with all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). But the most important thing God has given us to enjoy is Himself. We are to find satisfaction in our relationship with Him.

One of the keys to having a satisfying relationship is acceptance. Being accepted by someone who cares for us despite our flaws frees us to enjoy the friendship. The same is true of our kinship with God. Our loving heavenly Father understands exactly who we are and, because of Jesus’ work on the cross, accepts us by means of our adoption as His children. We who were once His enemies are now embraced as His family. Permanently accepted by God, we are free to enjoy rich intimacy with Him.

There are certain actions we can take that will increase our enjoyment of the Lord. Praising God for who He is – in other words, for His attributes – will make our hearts rejoice. Spending time with Him, getting to know Him, and listening to Him increase our intimacy with God and make our spirits glad. Refusing to believe the Devil’s lies, such as “You should be afraid of God” or “Your sin is too great to be forgiven,” enables us to encounter the Lord’s love in a deeper way and know the joy of forgiveness.

Are you experiencing the joy and freedom that come from knowing God accepts you? Will you act on His invitation to find your true pleasure in Him

Question: What does Dr Stanley suggest to become more able to experience the joy and freedom?

Related:
Do You Crave Intimacy?

Related:
What Does Your Soul Crave?

Related:
Do You Want To Experience Love?

“I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.” Ecclesiastes 3:12

It has been said that “money isn’t the only road to happiness, but it’s way ahead of whatever is in second place.” It has also been said that money cannot buy happiness, but a recent Princeton University study says that according to most Americans it can.

The study has pegged $75,000 a year as the happiness benchmark for most Americans. The further a person’s household income falls below that level, the unhappier they are. But at the same time, the study showed that no matter how much more than $75,000 people make, it doesn’t bring them any more joy…. more things, more toys, but not more joy. The study concluded that “High incomes don’t bring you happiness.”

I am not sure how they came to the $75,000 figure, but what I do know is that no amount of money can buy happiness. True happiness comes from within while income and things come from without.

The Bible says that true happiness comes not from having but from doing. God wants us to be happy, but he wants us to do good while we live. Glory built on selfish principles is shame and guilt.

William Cowper wisely noted that the only true happiness comes from “squandering ourselves for a purpose.” What is your purpose? What has God called you to do?

Don’t worry about your talents. God doesn’t call the equipped, rather he equips the called. He will never lead you where will not be equipped to go. We are having a mission week at our church and I have had the opportunity to speak with some of the happiest people I have ever met, some living in poverty and often physical danger.

But all are happy from within …… happier than any amount of money could give them, because they have the inner peace and joy of knowing that they are in God’s will and serving obediently His call. Would you be willing to answer such a call? Try it and find true happiness that cannot be measured in monetary terms.

Question: Are you willing to answer God’s call, even if you don’t feel equipped to do it?