Holy and Happy: Is It Impossible to Have Both?

Many people think that if you want to live a happy life, it must be hard to live a holy one. In reality, happiness is part of holiness. In other words, we cannot possibly separate holiness from happiness.

If so, what is the connection between a holy life and happiness? And what kind of happiness is in accordance with God's will?

Building a Happy Life

Most Christians believe that God wants their lives to be happy. Common motivational sayings also often encourage us to do things that make ourselves happy. However, how do we build a happy life that is pleasing to God?

Peter describes that happiness which is not God's will comes from sinful desires:

For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do. You have lived in all kinds of lust, passions, drunkenness, wild parties, drinking feasts, and unlawful idolatry. – 1 Peter 4:3

The world outside Christ is filled with the fleeting pleasures of sin. For example, watching pornography, smoking, using illegal drugs, and drinking alcohol. Not only do these lead us into dangerous addiction, but pleasures like these also do not glorify God because they do not reflect His character and holiness.

We are not yet living holy lives if we still find much pleasure outside God. A human life separated from Christ has no salvation, and therefore does not bring happiness.

True happiness is preceded by the reality that our sins have been removed before the holy God. That means, to begin living a happy life, we must first be sanctified. God wants us to repent of our sins and remain in His word.

God's Discipline and a Holy Heart

Holiness is the condition of the heart when God becomes our greatest joy. Being holy is not the opposite of happiness. However, holiness does not simply appear in us on its own. As children of God, sometimes we are disciplined by God so that our lives may become holy.

No discipline seems joyful at the time it is given, but sorrowful. Yet afterward it produces the fruit of righteousness that brings peace to those who have been trained by it. –  Hebrews 12:11

Discipline does not always feel pleasant. However, it is not that God does not want His children to be happy. On the contrary, through His discipline, we receive the fruits of holiness that bring peace.

Some of the happiest people I have ever met are disciples of Jesus who understand the love of God—regardless of whatever their life circumstances may be. No matter what happens, they will not trade their holiness for fleeting happiness, even though they could.

Sanctification is the process God works in us so that we grow, rejecting worldly pleasures and choosing divine joy. For example, before knowing God, I often slept until noon. After learning that God delights when we put Him first, I chose to wake up early so I could have my quiet time and enjoy personal time with God.

An unholy heart tends to see God as boring and view His word as a law that limits happiness. By contrast, a holy heart sees God as the most precious treasure and His word as the source of happiness.

Happy in Holiness

We do not have to choose between living happily or living holy, but between two kinds of happiness:

• Temporary happiness promised by the idols of the world, which ends in sorrow and death
• True happiness found in the Lord, who grants us a share in His glory and holiness

We can find true happiness through:

1. Knowing the Word of God This will help us distinguish between what is temporary pleasure and what leads to eternity. What is temporary we leave behind, while what is for eternal life must be pursued. 2. Helping Other People Live Being involved in other people's lives and seeing how they change into better people will bring us happiness.

In short, we cannot avoid holiness in order to pursue happiness, and vice versa, because the two are not separate things. And the struggle to attain both is a daily spiritual battle for us who choose holy happiness. Amen. - Church GKDI currently exists in 35 cities. We have Bible Study activities in every area. If you need information or would like to get involved, contact us at contact Church GKDI Official: WhatsApp 0821 2285 8686 or Facebook / Instagram GKDI Official

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