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June 11, 2007

Happiness?

Lydia Rule, RTF Staff Writer

Recently, I was discussing the definition of “happiness” in a forum. The question was: what is happiness?

This made me think about how people often mistake pleasure as happiness. Pleasure is getting something you want or doing something you enjoy. The sort of feeling you get when you buy a new t-shirt or pair of flip-flops that you’ve always wanted. It’s the feeling you get when your team wins a game. And all of these things are good, but they won’t make you truly happy. Why? Because as soon as the pleasurable moment is gone, you will usually feel let down or sad that it is over.

So what is happiness? If it’s not pleasure, than what is it? Happiness is something deeper; it’s a state of peace and inner tranquility.

John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

When you accept Jesus into your heart as your King, then you will have a true peace, a true happiness. And nothing can take that away. Not even the harshest of circumstances can steal real happiness.

I Peter 4:14 - If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Although I am a Christian, this doesn’t mean I will always be a smiley, happy-go-lucky sort of person. Things are going to happen in my life that will make me feel depressed. However, Jesus is my strength, my peace, and my happiness, and He will be there for me no matter what happens. And that is true happiness. Knowing that no matter what happens, I am not alone. When I am sad, He lifts me up. When I cry alone in my bedroom, I know that He is listening to my tears. This is true happiness.

Bio: Lydia Rule has been published in several international magazines. She is currently working on her fifth novel. Go to http://www.freewebs.com/aroundthebloc/to read Lydia’s newsletter for young writers.