Finding Happiness for Our Souls in Jesus: The Lord’s prophet asks, why spend your money and labor for what does not satisfy (Isaiah 55:2. The Lord Jesus Christ says, come unto me all who labor for complete satisfaction and I will give you the happiness your soul seeks (Matthew 11:28-29). “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 114:15).
One of the richest and wisest men of the old testament concluded, “the one who trusts in the lord will be happy” (Proverbs 16:20).
King Solomon said he had great riches, knowledge, honor and every pleasure of the world; but discovered things of the world do not lead to true happiness—satisfaction of the soul. He advises us that these things in the long run are all “meaningless, a chasing after the wind” – “vanity and vexation of spirits” (Ecclesiastes 2:11). The King’s experiences in life taught him that “the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy.”
Solomon counsels us to trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding–Think about him in all your ways, and he will guide you on the right paths to happiness of the soul (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Using, as an example, the sad endings of a few of many people of fame and fortune, show that happiness for our souls is not found in things of the world, as one finds in Jesus.
Elvis Presley: “King of Rock and Roll”— “one the most significant cultural icon of the 20thcentury,” died at the age of 42. He died of debatable causes—including “drugs habits” and “heart attack.”
Marilyn Monroe: One of Hollywood’s most “popular sex symbols” died at the age of 36, because of “barbiturate overdose.”
Michael Jackson: “King of Pop” –“one of the most popular entertainers in the world” died at the age of 50, due to “acute drug intoxication.”
Whitney Houston: “One of pop music’s best-selling artist of all time” died at age 45, from “drowning due to drug intoxication.”
Real fulfillment and lasting happiness are not found in things of the world. They are found only in Jesus Christ.
Even while suffering and being without many things of the world, real and lasting happiness for our souls may be found in the lord Jesus Christ.
Stephen, Early Church deacon, was martyred as he fearlessly proclaimed the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Stephen was stoned and dying, when he looked up into heaven and saw Jesus, and called out “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:54-59).
The Apostle Paulwas an example of one who was poor, persecuted and suffered a lot in life (Corinthians 11:16-33). But he said, “for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said: “I just want to do God’s will.” He was jailed, harassed and martyred while carrying out the Lord’s will.
Happiness for our souls can only be found in the Lord.
We were made by the Lord and for him. We were not made to be truly happy in any other way than in Jesus— no more than a square peg was made to fit in a round hole. (Genesis 1:26; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2).
The soul cannot be fully satisfied with things of the world. At some point in your search for happiness, your soul will make you aware that it is not satisfied by the things of the world. Feeding the soul with things of the world is like trying to satisfy an addiction. An addiction craves for more and more, but is never completely satisfied. The soul can only be satisfied by Jesus Christ. Only the person filled with the Holy Spirit from Jesus finds happiness of the soul.
Jesus said: My peace I give to you not as the world gives (John 14:27).(John 6:3). Come unto me all you who labor and I will give you rest for your souls (Matthew 11:28-29). I have come that you might have life more abundantly (John 10:10). Whoever drinks of the water I give him will never thirst again (John 4:4). And whoever believes in me as the scripture has said, streams of living water shall flow from within him–By this Jesus meant the Holy Spirit that believers would receive from the Lord (John 7:38-39).
An Old Testament “man after God’s own heart” found happiness of the soul in the Lord. King David recognized that the Lord has made us (Psalms 100:3); and he said his soul panted for the Lord as thirsty deer pants for streams of water (Psalms 42:1). Being “a man after God’s own heart”, David found pleasure in extolling the Lord at all times (Psalms 34:1).
When we seek the Lord with all our heart, we find happiness for our souls (Jeremiah 29:13). The Holy Spirit, which the Lord gives to us as earnest seekers, makes us living temples for God to dwell in (1 Corinthians 3:16). The Spirit conforms us, in whom he dwells, into the image of the Lord. Our primary desire grows increasingly to please God (Romans 8:29; John 8:29). Many of our desires for earthly things are progressively altered, as we deny self to please God (Luke 9:23). Even when denying ourselves and carrying our cross to follow the Lord, we find happiness of the soul now and forever in our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ .
