The pursuit of happiness is a pursuit that defines the lives of many within the human race. The world is in pursuit of happiness and it is a pursuit that dominates the lives of many and will cause many to do whatever it takes to achieve it--even if it means the destruction of other people’s lives.

The desire to be happy is not in itself an evil desire but it a common desire that we have as human beings. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be happy and wanting to experience joy. But what people will do to attain happiness can lead them to do unlawful and wicked things. It can cause us as believers to turn our backs on Jesus Christ if we are not careful and allow the pursuit of happiness to supercede the pursuit of maturing in our faith and growing in our love for God.

Although the fig tree shall not blossom , neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail , and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
(Habakkuk 3:17-19 - KJV)

As you read these 3 verses, what do you see? Habakkuk saw the destruction that was coming upon Judah and he was wondering why God would allow such suffering to come upon them. But yet, he chose that take joy in God no matter what the situation was that he saw with his own eyes. The prophet provides a powerful example for us in that the root and source of our joy and happiness should be the Lord. Is that true in your life or is something else the root and source of your joy and happiness?

Farming was an important part of the livelihood of the Jews so for Habakkuk to proclaim that he would still rejoice even if farming was wiped out shows an amazing trust that the prophet had for God. It is the equivalent of us saying today that even if we have no jobs, no food and no possessions, we would still joy in the Lord. And if the Lord truly is our Joy, then this is possible. And just like the first half of the Ten Commandments relate to God and then the final half relates to man, when God is our Joy, then we will see how to be happy and content in relation to other things.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned , in whatsoever state I am , therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased , and I know how to abound : every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry , both to abound and to suffer need . I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
(Philippians 4:11-13 - KJV)

Jesus Christ was the Joy of Paul and this is why it did not matter what the circumstances were that he went through. When we rely the source of our joy being in people and things other than God, when disappointments and hard times come, we will find ourselves drifting away from the Lord rather than remaining settled in Him. It was the fact that Paul’s joy was in Christ that allowed him to sing praises to God along with Silas when they were imprisoned (Acts 16). Even with all the things that Paul went through, he did not walk around feeling sorry for himself and falling into depression because his joy was in someone who is everlasting--Jesus Christ.

And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. "Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. "Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets. "But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. "Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.
(Luke 6:20-26 - NASB)

Another word for “blessed” is “happy.” That means Jesus is saying that those who are poor are “happy.” He is saying that those who are hungry now are “happy.” Those who are crying now are “happy.” But Jesus gives woes to those who are rich now and who are well-fed now and who are laughing now. It seems bizarre if we look at it from a worldly perspective, doesn’t it? But only a follower of Jesus Christ can make sense of His words here.

If Jesus is our Joy, then His words here will not be difficult to digest. For there are many who, for the sake of Christ, have lost their riches to become poor, have endured weeping instead of laughter and took on insults instead of praise from men. There is an abundance of evidence throughout the Book of Acts on this. One of the things that we must realize as believers in Christ is that we are “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1) and because of that, our lives are to be lived in sacrifice to our Lord Jesus. We are promised an eternity of joy, peace, happiness in the life to come with Christ for after we pass on from this life, there will be no more suffering, sorrow or death. This is our hope brothers and sisters and though this life in this flesh seems long to us, it is nothing compared to eternity.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing...

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
(James 1:2-4, 12 - NKJV)

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
(1 Peter 4:12-14 - ESV)

Yes, the Bible warns us that we are not guaranteed perfect health and wealth and that we are not here for the sake of enjoying the luxuries of life. We are here to serve the Lord and that service will many times bring about trials in addition to the challenges that we will already endure in life. As I have written in THE RECIPE FOR CONTENTMENT, this may be the toughest year that some of you have ever endured in your life. It is not meant to discourage you but meant to strengthen you but it will also test whether Jesus truly is your Joy or not.

Think about it from the standpoint of a spouse or a close friend. When you joy in someone, it does not matter what you have to go through or what tests come to that relationship, you will see each other through it. How much more so that if we joy in Christ, we will endure when we suffer on account of Him. But if our joy that is reserved only for God is in riches, worldly possessions or even other human beings, what happens when those objects of our joy are taken away? What happens when a beloved spouse dies? What happens when a person loses his/her home? What happens when a person loses his/her job? If that person’s joy is in the things that are lost, what keeps such a person from going on a path of destruction that can even lead to suicide if not for God’s mercy?

A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What is this that he saith , A little while? we cannot tell what he saith . Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said , A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament , but the world shall rejoice : and ye shall be sorrowful , but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come : but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice , and your joy no man taketh from you.
(John 16:16-22 - KJV)

As Jesus forever lives, so can our joy in Him. His disciples actually saw Jesus’ words from the Beatitudes come to life in their lives because they wept and mourned the death of Christ but they experienced a joy that was never taken away from them after they saw Him resurrected. Whereas our happiness and joy can be taken away if they are rooted in people and things, when our happiness and joy is rooted in Christ, it can never be taken away. People and things change and die but our Lord Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and He lives forever. So will we continue to attempt to root our joy and happiness in things that perish or in the one who lives?

There are people in the world who are going the way of  adultery, fornication, murder, greed, lying and all other types of wickedness in order to try and seize happiness in their lives. And if they do manage to get any happiness from it, it will only be short-lived and then there will be judgment that they will have to receive from the Righteous and Almighty God. God has given each of us a way out of this judgment and that is to repent (turn away) from our sins and believe in His Son Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. If you need to repent, do not delay and do so right now. Make Jesus your Joy and watch how you will be able to endure every trial of life and still rejoice. We can have God and joy but God must be our Joy for that to be so.