A Holy Handle on Happiness
March 11th, 2024
A Holy Handle on Happiness
and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he. Proverbs 16:20b
The hunt for happiness has been a premium pursuit in our human experience. According to secular psychologist, The psychological and philosophical pursuit of happiness commenced in China, India, and Greece approximately 2,500 years ago with Confucius, Buddha, Socrates, and Aristotle.
The Book of Genesis was written around BC 1450-1410 and the term/adjective happy is first mentioned in Genesis 30:13. “And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher”.
In addition, our Framers or constructors of our Constitution cemented the call and promoted the phrase. "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" in the United States Declaration of Independence. The phrase yields three cases of the unalienable rights which the Declaration displays and are bestowed to all humans by their Creator, and which governments are created to protect.
In 2014 R&B artist Pharrell Wiliams wanted to walk the world in happiness with his hit song “Happy” This bestselling song of 2014 repeats the word Happy 56 times.
According to those in the Helping profession (Psychologist, Therapist, and mental health Clinicians) Happiness is an emotional state characterized by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment. It involves experiencing more positive emotions than negative ones and feeling satisfied with different aspects of life, including relationships, work, and personal achievements.
While assessments of happiness may be different from one person to the next, there are some fundamental clues that psychologists look for when measuring and evaluating happiness.
The following is a list but not exhaustive metrics for measuring happiness:
• Feeling like you are living the life you wanted.
• Going with the flow and being willing to take life as it comes.
• Believing that the conditions of your life are good.
• Enjoying positive, healthy relationships with others.
• Feeling that you have accomplished (or will accomplish) what you want in life.
• Being open to new ideas and experiences.
• Practicing self-care and treating yourself with kindness and compassion.
• Experiencing gratitude.
• Feeling that you are living life with a sense of meaning and purpose.
A majority of those in the helping professional community forward the position that happiness is a persistent process, influenced by several factors, and it can be promoted and swayed by our actions and attitude.
In general, all souls seek to be happy, but sometimes trying to find happiness can be complicated. Often, we search for it in all the improper places or paths when the answer is much easier – ELEVATE AND EMBRACE OUR ETERNAL GOD AND WORSHIP AND WALK IN HIS WORD. Biblical Happiness is a Blessing for our head and heart. This is the rich reward for trusting Him (God).
Additionally, The Holy Scriptures can take us to true happiness through knowing the promises in God's Word!
Psalms 144:15
Happy is that people whose God is Jehovah.
Psalms 146:5
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
Proverbs 3:18
She (wisdom) is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
Romans 14:22
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
When we reach out with hands tied to trust, HIS hand gives us Happiness that is sourced in Heaven which never spoils and sours the soul.
Not a sermon just some thoughts
FtGG