Are you feeling happy today? Judging by much of the advertising these days, one just needs the right appliances, or vehicle, or diet, or housing location, or education, or success, or whatever latest fad is in town these days (activated almonds anybody?). History however seems to indicate that some people who had everything (money, fame, success, a lovely husband or wife or partner) were still profoundly unhappy. Some sadly to the point of taking their own lives.
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So how does one become happy? Being happy is important, we are told. One well known song about how being happy is like feeling, “… like a room without a roof”, goes on to say regardless of the bad news they hear, they will, “… be just fine, yeah”. Why? Because they’re happy of course! Another song from a bit further back reminds us to, “Don’t worry, be happy.” You’ll probably have that song sticking in your head now, but after a bit of reflection, doesn’t it just sound like being in a state of denial?
While it is true that worrying or being anxious doesn’t change anything, should we all just attempt a permanent state of happiness and positivity? According to an article from Aunty maybe we should just accept the fact that life sucks, take a spoonful of cement, and harden up. Critic of the positive thinking and self-help movement, Svend Brinkmann claims, “We are only allowed to be positive, we are only allowed to be happy and anything that threatens these states of mind is considered wrong.” The Danish psychology professor goes on to say, “People's problems are explained with reference to the fact that they weren't positive enough.”
Regular readers of the Bible will be aware of the Book’s claim that we live in a broken world (Romans 8:22). Following Jesus will not necessarily lead to happiness. It is after all about following a man to be crucified (Matthew 16:24). We are, however, promised peace (John 14:27) and the assurance that Jesus cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).