Happiness

Joy is God's Will for You

God's will is taught throughout the Bible; but can be misunderstood if one is not careful. When the God's Word says: "This is God's will for you..." You can't distort the meaning unless you are desperately trying to do so. Joy and happiness are God's will for you. We are commanded to be happy at all times! You think you can't find happiness at all times? God is a fair God and He knows you better than you do. He knows what you can and cannot do. If God tells you to do it; it's because you can do it.

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NASB)

By looking at the Greek words we can expand the meaning more clearly. "Rejoice always..." means "always be happy or joyful. "always" means "at all times." The word for "pray" here includes "worship" within the meaning.

In brief one could say God's will for us is:

Be happy,
give thanks about everything;
pray to and praise/worship
God at all times
about everything.

When I think about these words, I think: "Everything?" Does this mean we should be happy and thankful about the things we see as bad or painful in our lives? Even pain teaches us something good if we can see it. Opposites define one another. Can hot exist without understanding cold; light without darkness; pain without pleasure? Even things you think are bad can be turned into something good when you have faith, see, and understand the big picture. When you love God enough to trust Him and His plan/purpose/love for you; fear is replace with faith.

Romans 8:28; "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (NASB)

So yes, we should be and can be joyful always.

"I will rejoice and be glad in Your faithfulness, Because You have seen my misery; You have known the troubles of my soul..."(Psalms 31:7, NASB).
"Rejoice in your salvation..." (Look up Psalms 31:7-9 to read all of it in context).
"This is the day which the LORD has made; Let’s rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalms 118:24, NASB)
"I rejoice at Your word, Like one who finds great plunder."(Psalms 119:162, NASB)
"Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And sustain me with a willing spirit." (Psalms 51:12, NASB)
"For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy." (Psalms 63:7, NASB)
"My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You; And my soul, which You have redeemed." (Psalms 71:23, NASB)
"Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance/cheerful patience have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4, NASB)

I often ask myself: "Should I really be asking more about what God's will is for my life when I am not always following what I already know? Should I know more things to be guilty of not doing?" Then I realize I need to work more on what I know: Learn and practice being happy, praying, and praising God always.

(Note: Joy and praise combined with abstaining from evil is what brings peace.)

Find Peace