Everyone wants to be happy. In fact, it would be abnormal not to; happiness is a universal human desire. The key to happiness, however, is much different. Humanity has produced millions of pages and countless hours of debate and persuasive speech designed to pinpoint the key to happiness. A simple google search of the question “how to be happy?” produces over 4 billion results! Such a wide chasm of opinions on the matter would make one think happiness were next to impossible to obtain, but that is not the case. The key to happiness is simple–submission to the will of God.
The Psalmist wrote, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart! (Ps. 119:1-2). The Bible’s word for happiness is “blessed.” It is a different kind of happiness than what most in the world experience. The blessedness of which the Bible speaks is an abiding kind of joy and gladness that exists regardless of circumstances. This happiness belongs only to those who live their lives in submission to God’s Word. Those who put forth great effort to know and understand the Scripture, not because it is their duty, but because it is their delight.
This world is full of difficulty and heartache. Sadly, the search for happiness in a sea of gloom leads many people deeper into the pit. Drugs, alcohol, hobbies, social media, money, cars, clothes, make-up, social groups, friends, family members, and so many more things are used to try to produce happiness in life. But they all fail. Solomon would know better than anyone. He had more wisdom, more money, more opportunity, and more pleasure than anyone could imagine. Yet his conclusion was “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Ecc. 12:13). If you want to be truly happy, look to the Bible. It is the only source of true and during happiness.