Recently, for the first time in nearly two years, I had the opportunity to be with all of my great-grandchildren at the same time. In the picture accompanying today’s blog, my granddaughter Cory is holding our newest addition, a little girl who is scheduled to make her debut in two months. The obvious happiness etched on my face perfectly introduces my thoughts on biblical happiness.
Now, let’s back up to June 1963 and provide pertinent background. At the end of the summer, my fiancée Linda and I were to be married in Richmond, Kentucky, and with 1679 miles separating me from seeing her beautiful face, smelling her sweet perfume, and appreciating the cute little wiggle when she walked, I needed reassurance that I was following the will of God and not just my own desire. Therefore, I climbed up a mountain outside Salt Lake City, Utah, shared my concerns with Him, and searched my Bible for an answer. I will forever remember the clear directions I received from Psalm 128:
“Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel” (vss.1-6 KJV).
Now, I usually read from a more recent translation; however, on that day, God used the beauty of old English to give me specific promises regarding our future marriage, which lasted nearly sixty years. In the following weeks, months, and years, Linda and I refined those promises into a biblical framework which prepared us to understand that our happiness did not demand the elimination of suffering.
Joy is an inner peace which flows from our relationship with God. Therefore, it cannot be destroyed by suffering or difficult circumstances. Conversely, happiness is in large part dependent upon our circumstances. Now, in the final chapter of my life, I can attest to the fact that I am happy, but that has not always been the case. When I was thirty-five years old, I was introduced to the first of three seasons of suffering that have contributed to my understanding of joy and happiness. My youngest son, four days before his seventh birthday, was killed by a car in front of our house. Seventeen years later, I went through a debilitating bout with depression. Then, prior to my precious wife Linda going home to be with her Lord in May 2023, for nearly twenty years, I watched as Alzheimer’s significantly diminished her bubbly personality and eventually contributed to her death.
Ultimately, my search for happiness did not just happen. Rather, it was a process. God enabled me to understand that all the events of my life, including the three seasons of suffering, contributed to His overall plan for happiness which is revealed in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Ironically, those lofty exhortations were written while he was incarcerated in a Roman jail, most likely chained between two guards. Three essential steps to happiness have spoken to the Church for 2,000 years and need to be heard in our generation:
Maintain Joy
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4-7 NIV).
Establish Mental Guardrails
Traditionally, we think of guardrails as a strong fence by the side of the road or in the middle of an expressway, intended to reduce the risk of serious accidents. In the same way, biblically uniformed thinking serves as a threat to happiness, and, if left unchecked, leads to apostasy.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8 NIV).
Practice Intentionality
Paul’s concluding instruction in this series of exhortations includes a promise which covers everything in my life thus far, as well as all the unknown twists and turns which inevitably are yet to come: Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:9 NIV).
Ron Harvard Ministries 