Stop Seeking Happiness
Many people say, "Who will show us better times?" Let your face smile on us, Lord. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
— Psalm 4:6-8
Only humanity has a longing for meaning in life. I can assure you that my dog doesn't sit around pondering the reason for his existence. He won't be looking back on his life and saying, "You know, I tried it all as a dog. I chased cats. I drank toilet water. I tried bones. But deep inside of me, there was a void." Dogs don't think that way. They mainly think, Food . . . sleep.
Dogs, you see, aren't made in the image of God. But you and I have been created in His image. We are living souls, designed to know God and to live above this mundane existence that we call life. From the time of our birth, we have been on a quest, and the answer to all of our questions is found in a relationship with Him. God can give us pleasure that far surpasses the puny, fleeting pleasures this world offers. And the good news is there is no hangover in the morning. There is no guilt that accompanies it. As Psalm 16:11 says, "In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." There is pleasure in knowing God, not in chasing after happiness.
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I have discovered that I never will find happiness by chasing it. But what we will find is that as we chase God, if we will, as we pursue God and walk with Him, then one day we will realize we became happy people. Happiness doesn't come through actively seeking it but by getting our lives into proper balance. Happiness and joy are the byproducts of that balance.
It's like the Lord Jesus said. If you seek God and His plan first, everything else in life—including happiness and peace—will fall into place.
