The Mystery of Happiness

God has made us for himself, for his own joy. But he also created us to live in healthy relationships with others. That’s the source of happiness (see Mt. 22:34-40). However, everything begins with being rightly connected to God in an on-going love relationship. As I continue the series of blogs, “The Search for Contentment,” you’ll see today (and next week) that a right relationship with God is not only what’s needed to find happiness, but you and I have a deep need to be in stable relationships with others. However, It's your relationship with God that teaches you how to do that. In today’s blog, I want to peer into Psalm 32 and answer the question: "How do we find happiness in life and relationships?" I want to start looking at the Old Testament character of David in his uneasy search for happiness.

THE SOURCE FOR GENUINE HAPPINESS

Psalm 32:1-2…

"Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!"

David is the author of Psalm 32 and when he writes, "what joy" the Hebrew word is 'esher. It literally means "blessed, happiness." David was indicating the abundant and overflowing blessedness of being in a right relationship with God, where even disobedience is forgiven. He’s saying that God showers happiness upon those who love him. That sense of happiness is translated as "joy" in the verses above. It’s a joy and contentment that's deeper than momentary happiness. It's built upon a profound, multilayered, entrenched love between you and God that will sustain you well beyond difficult, challenging, but transient circumstances—whether self-inflicted or outside your control. It’s the kind of joy only a relationship with God can produce. It flows from God's Grace to you, producing blessed happiness.

YOUR PART?

God is in the business of pouring his character, truth, promises, grace, mercy, power, and love into your life. And what does he want in return?

Your faith and trust.

Your obedience.

Your cooperation.

Your passion to know and love him first and foremost.

That’s what David is talking about in Psalm 32. He’s telling us what happiness consists of and how to keep it. In a nutshell, happiness consists of being and staying in a right relationship with God. The Bible teaches that "right relationship" begins by embracing Jesus as Savior and continues as you ask him to lead your life each day (Romans 5:8-11). In fact, that’s the only way to be right with God. True happiness in life can be found only in a friendship with God. That’s where it all begins and ends. Live that way daily and God will teach you how to live with others with the same love and grace (More on that next week!).

FROM BROKEN TO RESTORED

Here’s a definition of sin:

Breaking fellowship with God by choosing evil rather than God’s moral goodness."

David wrote in v.1, "disobedience is forgiven, and sin is put out of sight." In light of Jesus Christ and your faith in his work on the cross and resurrection, you believe that God declares you forgiven and restored to him. It means that God fully accepts you as his son or daughter. David writes in v. 2, "what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt." When Jesus took your sins upon himself on the cross, he made it possible for every one of your transgressions against him to be lifted; for your guilt and punishment to be cleared forever. God doesn’t count your sin against you even when you do something that breaks fellowship with him! You’re cleared! His grace wins out over your sin! The result? Happiness and joy. If you’re not in this faith relationship with God, I invite you to come to Jesus today! It’s where you will find real joy and happiness.

LIVE LIKE YOU'RE RESTORED

David knew a relationship with God is not just about having your sins lifted and your shame covered. Relationships are a two-way bond. So, in v. 2, he writes, "live your life before God in complete honesty." A vital truth about true happiness in life and in relationships is to keep your moral slate clean before God. Be honest with the Lord. Every day. And then in vv. 3-4 David warns us about the dangers of not being honest with God by trying to hide sin or ignoring its effect…

"When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat."

David is saying, "What happens if you break fellowship with God and begin acting like you’re not rightly connected to him?" What happens if you decide not to be honest with God and refuse to confess your wrongs to him? Choosing to sin as a follower of Jesus will bring guilt that blocks fellowship with God and the way to true joy and happiness. It hurts your relationship with God. You'll feel like you’re wasting away, groaning through your day. David is saying that believing people need to live each day in the restoration God gives his people of faith. Face sin head-on, admit it to God and live in the restored fellowship Jesus died to give you.

Physically speaking, what happens when a major artery to the brain is blocked? That area of the brain is deprived of life-giving blood and oxygen. It results in a stroke and paralysis to parts of the body. Similarly, when you break fellowship with God the life-giving Spirit of God is blocked and choked by sin. It results in a spiritual paralysis in your relationship with God. And instead of joy and happiness, it’s heart-guilt and groaning. The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 6:14-16…

"How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil?...For we are the temple of the living God."

That’s why there’s such conflict in the heart of a Christ-follower when he or she chooses a path of sin. The remedy? Be honest with God! If you go too long in this break of fellowship, you’ll become hardened—the voice of the Holy Spirit will grow quiet and your self-willed voice will overwhelm you rather than the voice of God.

ARE YOU A DAVID?

In the backdrop of Psalm 32 is David’s own tale of sin and deceit, the story of when he kept silent about his sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. David reveals himself to be a shady character of sin—he’s David the Deceiver, David the Truth Suppresser. His days turned into misery, inner turmoil, a persistent, pestering, the restlessness of the soul. Joy? Happiness? No! David was wasting away in his concealed sin. But not only was he wasting away spiritually, his relationships with those closest to him suffered. Next week, I’ll look at how your spiritual condition will affect your personal relationships with others.

NEXT STEP

1. If you're struggling with contentment and peace in your life, look first to your relationship with God. Are you in a right relationship with him? Is there an area or areas of rebellion against God? Admit it. Confess it before God and he will restore your fellowship with him.