God doesn't want you to be happy, He wants you to be strong.

Dread_Zeppelin1 · May 14, 2013

"God doesn't want you to be happy, He wants you to be strong."

A quote from a show I was watching. I immediately wanted to refute it (God wants everyone to be happy right?) but then I really thought about the pain and suffering...intense suffering by Christian people I knew. Good Christian people driven nearly insane with grief. Can you refute this? What is the biblical view on this?

GreenNnice · May 14, 2013

Dread_Zeppelin1 said:

God's plans for us are good: "For I know the plans, I have for you, thoughts for peace and not evil, for a future and a hope..." Jer. 29:11

These plans, if we follow will not just make us happy, they will make us filled with joy, for His
Spirit will be in us LIVING, D_Z, and, we want this kind of feeling in us, don't we, Scripture says too, we are to want to be 'ever-filled with His Spirit,' He wants to give us this kind of life, this kind of 'oh, what a feeling,' as Irene Cara sings, yeah, this kind of living, milady

Verses with others for context :

"11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Livi94 · May 14, 2013

Hmmmm, personly I believe that God's certainly wants His children to be happy. But more importantly I think He wants us all to have eternal life in Heaven and you definitely need to be a strong person to achieve that happiness in Heaven. Life throws everyone obstacles that we must find our ways around. These life lessons though make us stronger! But along the way a lot of people lose faith in God. I think that in order to maintain that faith and to make your faith stronger, you have to be a strong person. That's the hardest thing for people. But once you are strong, and have a strong faith, what is there to not be happy about?

Nuns_n_roses · May 14, 2013

Livi94 said:

Love that.^

I would love if God's plans are for me to be happy, but if they are not, God's plans for me will make me strong. Either way, I will have learned, sharpened like a formidable sword welded with fire, and I believe with God happiness is never truly far behind if we are with Him.

GreenNnice · May 14, 2013

A biblical view of being happy is from Jesus speaking to His disciples, He says, "In this world you will experience trials and tribulations, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Abiding · May 14, 2013

Dread_Zeppelin1 said:

He doesnt necessarily want us to be happy but holy and grief and sorrow is part of it.
Trials is what takes us deep into our heart issues. Sunbathing doesnt work as good.

GreenNnice · May 14, 2013

Liviliving says things well, we increase in our faith by serving Him, as He leads us. The Lord leads. And, we do that by suffering in His name, but the net result is the revealing of His glory and I have some verses to back this truth. And, we want the peace and comfort and assurance of what we do is showing us how to be more bold doing things so that He gets the glory, D_Z

So, you will be persecuted for your faith, milady, but God will be with you and He will show you His glory and He will show you that what you do is His will , and , we want to be His workmanship, He says that we are created for doing good works and, yes, we are 'His workmanship." Eph. 2:10.

He will give you the confidence to choose His way for your life, but it can and will seem like suffering, at times, but, in so doing this way, you will be doing His way for your life, and, being persecuted for not doing things like your friends in 'their ways' still of the world, the beattitudes let us know that 'Blessed are those who are persecuted (in suffering) because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matt. 5 : 10

So, follow Him, and, you WILL be not just happy in your suffering but filled with joy because you WILL see His glory, the glory of God, His shining down on your life for boldly following His lead of suffering .

Adding to:

psychomom · May 14, 2013

Abiding said:

and He has given us a way (a circumcised heart and the Holy Spirit) to be joyful.

peterT · May 14, 2013

Dread_Zeppelin1 said:

Hebrews 12:11
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

joeyruready · May 14, 2013

2 Corinthians 12:10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

God does want all of us to be happy. It is God's desire that each of us live in HIs kingdom here and now. HIs kingdom is a matter of love and joy and peace in the holy spirit. I am not strong. God is. I can do all things through God who gives me strength. Including thanking God for all things and wanting what I have and whatever I receive.

The key to being happy isn't receiving what you want but wanting what you have. It is difficult for us to want things we don't like or things that are painful or even frightening. I am going to find a story I wrote a few years ago that fits into this topic.

My Favorite Thing

Excerpts from a Dog's Diary:
..8:00 am - Dog food!...My favorite thing!
..9:30 am - A car ride!...My favorite thing!
..9:40 am - A walk in the park!...My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted!...My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch!...My favorite thing!
..1:00 pm - Played in the yard!...My favorite thing!
..3:00 pm - Wagged my tail!...My favorite thing!
..5:00 pm - Milk Bones!...My favorite thing!
..7:00 pm - Got to play ball!...My favorite thing!
..8:00 pm - Wow! TV with the people!...My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed!...My favorite thing!

It made me smile and also so grateful for my dog Peanut. She is so happy and just like this diary whatever she is doing she is happy and enthusiastic. I considered, how amazing must a life be; when each thing we do is our favorite thing?

Then I began to think of my own diary...REad Gods word...My favorite thing. Prayed To God...My faorite thing!!! Fellowshipped with my christian friends...My favorite thing!!! moved a cabinet, My favorite thing!!(maybe not)! watched tv...My favorite thing. Missed my children(very very hard)...My favorite thing!!!

I ran into a snare though. I was in tremendous pain today and I thought, "Experienced extreme physical pain, definitely not my favorite thing." So I prayed and God reminded me of this verse; "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit"(Romans 15:13?)
Fill me with Joy and peace as i Trust in him. I have trusted God for my pain and my disability and even thanked him for it(Galatians 5:20) but it was difficult for me to find joy in this. As I prayed I understood, God has allowed this in my life and will use it for his purpose. (Romans 8:28) I can speak truthfully now, suffered horrendous back pain today...My favorite thing!Praise Our God who is all powerful and in everything works for our good. My Joy is indeed full and overflowing. It is my prayer that everyone who reads this also receive the same abundance of blessing God has given me.

You see, I believe God is in control. I believe God uses all things for my good. I trust God beyond my own thinking and beyond my own wants or desires. This is the question I often pose to my brothers and sisters: what would you be willing to suffer if you knew your suffering would make a difference in one person being saved or not. God knows my answer. Not only am I willing to suffer, but I trust God to make very good use of my suffering and how could I not rejoice?

Rejoice in the Lord always.

hattiebod · May 14, 2013

And He said to me," My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christs sake.For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor. 12:9-10

I give thanks to God for your faithfulness and I pray that you will have a great day. A day filled with the Joy of the Lord

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zone · May 14, 2013

GreenNnice said:

could you look at the passage and tell me what 'plans God has for your life' based on Jeremiah 29?

Jeremiah 29
Jeremiah’s Letter to the Exiles
1These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the eunuchs, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metal workers had departed from Jerusalem. 3The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. It said: 4“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 8For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream,a 9for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the LORD.

10“For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfareb and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

15“Because you have said, ‘The LORD has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,’ 16thus says the LORD concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who dwell in this city, your kinsmen who did not go out with you into exile: 17‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, behold, I am sending on them sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like vile figs that are so rotten they cannot be eaten. 18I will pursue them with sword, famine, and pestilence, and will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, a terror, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them, 19because they did not pay attention to my words, declares the LORD, that I persistently sent to you by my servants the prophets, but you would not listen, declares the LORD.’ 20Hear the word of the LORD, all you exiles whom I sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 21‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying a lie to you in my name: Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall strike them down before your eyes. 22Because of them this curse shall be used by all the exiles from Judah in Babylon: “The LORD make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,” 23because they have done an outrageous thing in Israel, they have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and they have spoken in my name lying words that I did not command them. I am the one who knows, and I am witness, declares the LORD.’”

what plans for them was he talking about?

SarahM777 · May 14, 2013

Please do not confuse happiness with joy. Happiness depends on circumstances,joy transcends circumstances. I just don't see how anyone can say the apostles were very happy being beaten,stoned,or boiled in oil,etc. If someone can please show me where Jesus or the apostles said we would be happy? Paul told told the fruit of the spirit would be joy NOT HAPPINESS.

my_adonai_ · May 14, 2013

Dread_Zeppelin1 said:

Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Act 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
Act 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Act 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

secularhermit · May 14, 2013

This is not my Paradise...

Unintended · May 14, 2013

I would like to suggest that the Word Happy is not found in scripture.. The word Joy is.

Happy is more like something you do to try and feel good.. Its fleeting comes and goes with emotion or cicumstance its not very sturdy and does not do well under stress.

Now the Joy of the Lord. This is a very much deeper and fullfilling wellspring that is not of our own efforts.

tribesman · May 16, 2013

Dread_Zeppelin1 said:

Food for thought:

Rom.9

[6] Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
[7] Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
[8] That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
[9] For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.
[10] And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
[11] ( For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth; )
[12] It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
[13] As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
[14] What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
[15] For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
[16] So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
[17] For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
[18] Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
[19] Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
[20] Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
[21] Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
[22] What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
[23] And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

starfield · May 16, 2013

Suffering in the Christian life has divine purposes, i.e. to strengthen our faith, chastise, glorify Himself in our life. It can be the will of God for instance Israel's exodus and Job's predicament.

1 Thess 3:3-4 "That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know".

1 Pet 1:6-7 "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ".

Grandpa · May 16, 2013

The Joy of the Lord is our Strength.

I guess we get both, spiritually speaking. Strength and happiness.

The flesh gets neither. But it sometimes smiles anyways because it knows its days are numbered...

kardiaoangelous · May 16, 2013

secularhermit said:

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

This may not be the actual paradise for us but that does not keep us from having a foretaste of the joy of that paradise.

In our hearts our hope based in God's promise is as assured as though it is already our reality, spiritually.

Notice that in the following example, which is but one of many Paul relates to us:

Hebrews 11:8-10 "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

We must see the reality of our faith as being practically realized, for we know that it will be so if we do not faint in our faith of God's promise to us.

Otherwise we are left as this Proverb describes: Proverbs 13:12a "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick .."

The latter half of that verse says, "but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life." I would suggest that we understand that for now to read, "but the the thing realized as though real of our faith supported by a hope we hold to be certain, it is a tree of life for us even now."

The 'World English Bible' words that, Proverbs 13:12 "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life."

We have no good reason to long as though God does not amply supply all our needs, now. (Matthew 6:26-34)

1 Timothy 6:17-19 "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy [enjoy is that joy in action]; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."

Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

We have a spiritual paradise now that we can enjoy such things as this and now is the time to be filled with grace toward a world which needs to come to know this joy as we do.

Proverbs 3:18 "[Wisdom] She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her."

Proverbs 11:30 "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."

God doesn't want you to be happy, He wants you to be strong.

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