How does Christianity make you happy?

[fhansen]

The question is fairly self-explanatory I think.

You can argue that everything we do is because we're happier doing it than any of the other options that were available to us at the time. So when you choose to do something it's our preferred choice even though it may cause you a great cost. Like if you resign from your job in a matter of principle. It's not ideally what you wanted to do and you're not happy to now be unemployed but if the decision allowed you to keep your principles then you were "happier" doing that than staying on and betraying them.

So, there are lots of different kinds of happiness, from the complex happiness of doing the right thing to a more simple smiley feeling. So I wondered what kind of happiness you get from your faith?

No matter what happens in this life, good or bad, something’s in control of it all, Someone who has only our ultimate best interests in mind. Goodness and order and meaning and purpose and love reside at the foundations of the universe, in spite of the often chaotic and empty and sinful world we live in.

 

[Hmm]

No matter what happens in this life, good or bad, something’s in control of it all, Someone who has only our ultimate best interests in mind. Goodness and order and meaning and purpose and love reside at the foundations of the universe, in spite of the often chaotic and empty and sinful world we live in.

That is a very happy and comforting thought, thanks.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

The question is fairly self-explanatory I think.

You can argue that everything we do is because we're happier doing it than any of the other options that were available to us at the time. So when you choose to do something it's our preferred choice even though it may cause you a great cost. Like if you resign from your job in a matter of principle. It's not ideally what you wanted to do and you're not happy to now be unemployed but if the decision allowed you to keep your principles then you were "happier" doing that than staying on and betraying them.

So, there are lots of different kinds of happiness, from the complex happiness of doing the right thing to a more simple smiley feeling. So I wondered what kind of happiness you get from your faith?

Knowing and having a relationship with my Creator. It goes beyond happiness. Blessings

 

[chilehed]

How does Christianity make you happy?

It's important to understand that the word "happy" doesn't mean a subjective feeling of contentment or pleasure with one's situation, even though that's how it's commonly used. The word comes from the Old Norse word happ, which indicates good fortune or objective blessedness.

 

[mlepfitjw]

@Hmmm! I believe if anything, my heart is more content when remembering what the bible has said about God that is related to us. Nothing can separate us away from God's love.

That is something we can find contentment in. We are forgiven of our sins because of the Lord Jesus Christ, dying on the cross paying for the whole world an all peoples sins. That is something we can rest in, but of course if my main life goal is just to achieve happiness here on earth, it seems like a slightly shallow goal.

What those who are suffering as a individual of alone believer that is all in it on the accountance of faith of the Lord Jesus Christ?

All forms of emotions come and go, and we can't have one them constantly because their is just to many emotions to deal with, though I believe we can have contentment in this life, weither we have a lot of anything, or not much of anything at all... even if you dont have ANYTHING going on for you in your life.


Striving to just be happy, I get it. (That seems very difficult to have at the tip of your tongue constantly) Im just so happy ya ya.

Well what about the others who are not, or are struggling? What is there to do here?

We suffer with them too right?

Enjoying contentment, ah much more of a blessing and enjoyment of the gifts God has allowed to be in your life through all your experiences.

( I see happy - contentment as different) Some would say they are the same but I would disagree.

 

[Jaxxi]

The question is fairly self-explanatory I think.

You can argue that everything we do is because we're happier doing it than any of the other options that were available to us at the time. So when you choose to do something it's our preferred choice even though it may cause you a great cost. Like if you resign from your job in a matter of principle. It's not ideally what you wanted to do and you're not happy to now be unemployed but if the decision allowed you to keep your principles then you were "happier" doing that than staying on and betraying them.

So, there are lots of different kinds of happiness, from the complex happiness of doing the right thing to a more simple smiley feeling. So I wondered what kind of happiness you get from your faith?

I am not happy in my faith but am rather terrified of not being good enough to be worthy of the Lord. My faith is not about my happiness as that is very selfish. My faith needs to lie in what makes God happy because I am here to serve Him but I am finding that hard to do in America as everywhere I go there is secular music, and people using profanity, and, doing things that do not glorify God in any way and I am fearing Gods wrath. So, no I am hoping to find my happiness in the next life or after this life so for now I am trying to make God happy.

 

[SANTOSO]

The question is fairly self-explanatory I think.

You can argue that everything we do is because we're happier doing it than any of the other options that were available to us at the time. So when you choose to do something it's our preferred choice even though it may cause you a great cost. Like if you resign from your job in a matter of principle. It's not ideally what you wanted to do and you're not happy to now be unemployed but if the decision allowed you to keep your principles then you were "happier" doing that than staying on and betraying them.

So, there are lots of different kinds of happiness, from the complex happiness of doing the right thing to a more simple smiley feeling. So I wondered what kind of happiness you get from your faith?

When you say “how does Christianity make you happy?”, I perceive that you may mean when believers of Christ are more concerned about SELF than Christ. This is not how we are taught in Christ.

This is what we have heard:
and he died for all, that those who live might NO LONGER LIVE FOR THEMSELVES but for him who for their sake died and was raised. -2 Corinthians 5:15

We should not concern ourselves about our happiness but on how we comfort our Lord Jesus Christ with our love.

For this is what we have heard :
Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked FOR PITY, but there was none, and FOR COMFORTERS, but I found none. -Psalms 69:20

We should no longer concern ourselves but show more concerned on how to bring delights to our King.

For this is what we have heard:
And the KING will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you DID IT TO ME.' -Matthew 25:40

 

[Hmm]

I am not happy in my faith but am rather terrified of not being good enough to be worthy of the Lord.

But does God' want us to live in fear? None of us are good enough are we but doesn't God forgive us?

1 John 4:18
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."

My faith is not about my happiness as that is very selfish.

I think there is good selfishness and bad selfishness. Wanting to be happy seems very natural to me. Every animal wants to be happy.

My faith needs to lie in what makes God happy

So, no I am hoping to find my happiness in the next life or after this life so for now I am trying to make God happy.

I think God is happy if we are happy (in the right way) and I think He is sad when he sees us suffering. But the thought His happiness depends on us doesn't sound right to me. Happiness is a complex word anyway - it means a lot more than being happy clappy - and when applied to God it must be even more complex.

 

[Hmm]

We should not concern ourselves about our happiness but on how we comfort our Lord Jesus Christ with our love.

If we pursue happiness directly we're never going to get it are we? We're pursuing it so we're perceiving it as something beyond us that we want but havent got, and while we're pursuing it this will always be the case. Happiness comes naturally out of other things like in your example of being in a loving relationship with Christ.

 

[steppinrazor]

God makes me happy. He's the source of my joy and contentment. He gives my life meaning and direction and I love Him.

Yours in His Service,

~Bella

yup, basically this

 

[ViaCrucis]

The question is fairly self-explanatory I think.

You can argue that everything we do is because we're happier doing it than any of the other options that were available to us at the time. So when you choose to do something it's our preferred choice even though it may cause you a great cost. Like if you resign from your job in a matter of principle. It's not ideally what you wanted to do and you're not happy to now be unemployed but if the decision allowed you to keep your principles then you were "happier" doing that than staying on and betraying them.

So, there are lots of different kinds of happiness, from the complex happiness of doing the right thing to a more simple smiley feeling. So I wondered what kind of happiness you get from your faith?

The Gospel gives me peace and comfort, there is a God of love who is invested in the world, and who promises the salvation of the world. As part of that world I am the object of God's affection, and so are all my neighbors, and indeed all creatures. The terror of the Law which I behold in my transgressions and naked sinfulness does not destroy me, but rather I hear the words, "Repent and believe the good news", and so I can come before God and boldly confess my sins, confess that I am a sinner, and pray God save me--and I can be confident that He has, that He is saving me, for Christ died, Christ has rose, and Christ is coming again. The day will come when there is no more sorrow, or shame, or sin, or death, or sickness. The day will come when there will be no more violence, injustice, war, and hate. And God, in Christ, invites me to share in the foretaste of that future world. I am invited to bear the cross in following Christ, loving my neighbor, in speaking and advocating for justice even here and now. And so no matter the sufferings of this life, whether in living or in dying, I belong to Christ. Death's defeat means there is no enemy left to fear.

Those things do make me happy, I am happy because I know that no matter what happens all shall be made right. I am happy because I know that God loves the unloved. I am happy because I know that death has been defeated, and that sins are forgiven, and that the devil and all of hell is powerless.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[zoidar]

Yes, I feel the same way. I'm beginning to find people that say things like "Well! If you're not leaping about like a lamb in springtime that means you haven't got Christ" an absolute pain. Things are far more complex than that. I wish they weren't in many way but I'm beginning to think they are. What do we do?

Don't know if this video will be of help for you, but it helped me. God bless!

 

[Jaxxi]

But does God' want us to live in fear? None of us are good enough are we but doesn't God forgive us?

1 John 4:18
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."



I think there is good selfishness and bad selfishness. Wanting to be happy seems very natural to me. Every animal wants to be happy.





I think God is happy if we are happy (in the right way) and I think He is sad when he sees us suffering. But the thought His happiness depends on us doesn't sound right to me. Happiness is a complex word anyway - it means a lot more than being happy clappy - and when applied to God it must be even more complex.

If we are happy doing things that do not glorify Him that does NOT make God happy.

But does God' want us to live in fear? None of us are good enough are we but doesn't God forgive us?

1 John 4:18
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."



I think there is good selfishness and bad selfishness. Wanting to be happy seems very natural to me. Every animal wants to be happy.





I think God is happy if we are happy (in the right way) and I think He is sad when he sees us suffering. But the thought His happiness depends on us doesn't sound right to me. Happiness is a complex word anyway - it means a lot more than being happy clappy - and when applied to God it must be even more complex.

Psalm 147:11 the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.
Ecclesiastes 5:7

But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
Luke 12:5

Yes I think we are to live in fear. Those who do not fear the Lord are proud and ignorant. God created heaven and earth but after He threw Satan here, the earth became a place of sin that God cannot stand. He loathes what satan has done to His creation and we are mostly tainted, damaged goods that He has no problem discarding of because we are flawed. Its like if you are going to make sandwiches for your family and some of the bread is moldy. Even if one of the pieces has a little mold on it, you will throw it away because you only want perfectly clean bread. God seeks perfection amongst us.

 

[windwhistler]

Happiness can mean so many different things to so many different people. It is fleeting. As others have said, joy is what God wants most to give us and, because I can be a bit slow, I am still trying to really understand what the fullness of joy is and how I can glorify God through living in it no matter what the outer circumstances are.

 

[Hmm]

If we are happy doing things that do not glorify Him that does NOT make God happy.

Psalm 147:11 the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.
Ecclesiastes 5:7

But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
Luke 12:5

Yes I think we are to live in fear. Those who do not fear the Lord are proud and ignorant. God created heaven and earth but after He threw Satan here, the earth became a place of sin that God cannot stand. He loathes what satan has done to His creation and we are mostly tainted, damaged goods that He has no problem discarding of because we are flawed. Its like if you are going to make sandwiches for your family and some of the bread is moldy. Even if one of the pieces has a little mold on it, you will throw it away because you only want perfectly clean bread. God seeks perfection amongst us.

Fortunately I don't experience or think of God in that way.

 

[sunshineforJesus]

The joy of the Lord is my strength.

 

[Jaxxi]

You have to experience God in the way that is real. This is what God Himself says....

Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:14

Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God.
Leviticus 25:17

The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. Deuteronomy 6:24

But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
Samuel 12:24

If we ignore the word of God then we are ignorant to living the way He desires. Living the way He desires is the only thing to keep you from going to hell. There are 2 places to go. One or the other and guess what! While alive you can live any way you want to. That is the great problem with humanity! Live it your way with a make believe God and see what happens. Wouldn't you want to live the way the One with the power to send you to hell wants you to live? There are billions upon billions of humans on this earth! Be one of the shiny diamonds when He is looking amongst the trash that He picks you up and says " That one is beautiful" and decides to keep you.

 

[Hmm]

You have to experience God in the way that is real. This is what God Himself says....

Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:14

Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God.
Leviticus 25:17

The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. Deuteronomy 6:24

But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
Samuel 12:24

If we ignore the word of God then we are ignorant to living the way He desires. Living the way He desires is the only thing to keep you from going to hell. There are 2 places to go. One or the other and guess what! While alive you can live any way you want to. That is the great problem with humanity! Live it your way with a make believe God and see what happens. Wouldn't you want to live the way the One with the power to send you to hell wants you to live? There are billions upon billions of humans on this earth! Be one of the shiny diamonds when He is looking amongst the trash that He picks you up and says " That one is beautiful" and decides to keep you.

Again, that is not a picture of God that I recognise. It's also off-topic .

 

[SANTOSO]

If we pursue happiness directly we're never going to get it are we? We're pursuing it so we're perceiving it as something beyond us that we want but havent got, and while we're pursuing it this will always be the case. Happiness comes naturally out of other things like in your example of being in a loving relationship with Christ.

It is impossible for us to bear the fruit of joy on our own ! Why ? The Lord has explicitly told us :

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me YOU CAN DO NOTHING. -John 15:5

Many have tried to create their own version of happiness, but no avail. It may outwardly that they will try to convey to others that they are happy but inwardly they feel ashamed to confess that they felt empty on the inside or just ignoring or suppressing or evading the truth. Why? They are distancing themselves from the life of God. But our Lord Jesus Christ, our Shepherd can restore our inner person, as we have heard:

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. -Psalms 23:3

Sin makes a person sorrowful. That is why the Lord comes to set us free from sin and that we be blessed having our offenses forgiven and our sins covered by His love that He poured at the cross.

We rejoice for having been forgiven and that our Lord makes us righteous on the account of His sacrifice before God.

we rejoice because we can now take refuge in His blood that we do not have to suffer the wrath of God.

I understand that there are those who suffer physically, emotionally and mentally in this land of the living and find no joy but this is what we have heard:

But REJOICE insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. -1 Peter 4:13

Consider our sufferings ! Is it because we have done wrong or right ? When we have done wrong, the Lord gives His grace of repentance, in order that we may rejoice and living in His love. If we have done what is right, then we are suffering for righteousness’ sake or Christ’s sake ; we are told to rejoice.
If we don’t know whether we are suffering for what is right or wrong, we can ask the Lord for wisdom and understanding to guide us into all truth through His Spirit. Even in our suffering, we are not alone ; for the Lord is with us, as we take His yoke and burden; for the Lord daily bears our burden, as we have heard : Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah -Psalms 68:19

Our Lord is truly compassionate toward us; that is why He understand when we suffer ! For we are not only SUFFERINGS ONLY FOR HIM, BUT ALSO WITH HIM.

See Jesus, our KING ; He is a compassionate KING, as we have heard what He has said in His words :
And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' -Matthew 25:40

Who the King cares ? Even if we are the least of all the brethren, the King considers others who are compassionate on the account of us.

Can we not rejoice to hear what our King has said ?

I understand that many are struggling with sin in daily living ; those who despair in suffering cried why the Lord has to create the devil ? If there is no devil, we would not be sinning. To blame God for creating the devil is not the right response. By saying that, many unknowingly fall into the devil’s trap; the devil tries to make the cross that we have to carry is too heavy ! But it is not so ! For the Lord have given His grace to strengthen our hearts, and the Lord have weighed first whether we are able to carry ! Since we have taken the Lord’s yoke and burden, the Lord also bears up with us; for we have heard the Lord gives strength to His people in Psalm 29:11.

Even if we do away with the devil, all of us will be rewarded according to our deeds; that do not change. Inevitably, we all still need to face afflictions and sufferings.

But the Lord is good, and that He have considered all afflictions, sufferings and take away our sins. In this, we rejoice that the Lord turn to us and show us favor, and in righteousness, He brings out of distress.

This is what we have heard:
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. -Hebrews 5:8

For we who have received the Spirit of God make us to be sons of God through Christ Jesus; as those who are led by the Spirit of God, we ALSO learn obedience through what we suffer.

Therefore, to be joyful, we need to pray like what the apostle Paul have taught us:

being STRENGTHENED with all power, ACCORDING TO HIS GLORIOUS MIGHT, for all endurance and patience WITH JOY; -Colossians 1:11

As we have heard to per server patiently in our sufferings and TO BE JOYFUL IN ANY SITUATION , we need the strength of our Father of grace in heavens which His Spirit supplies through Christ Jesus our Lord.

In sum, our joy would be complete only when the joy of the Lord is in us, as we have heard:

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. -John 15:11

How the joy of the Lord can be in us ? Unless we bring delights to the Lord !

What bring delights to the Lord ? This is what we have heard:

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. -John 15:10

Therefore, our joy is derived from abiding in His love by keeping His commandments.

 

[Jaxxi]

Again, that is not a picture of God that I recognise. It's also off-topic .

So you do not recognize the God of the Bible? Where in the Bible does He say, " Do what makes YOU happy because that makes ME happy."? Its not off topic because it quotes Gods word about fear.