Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him. Psalm 34:8 (AMP)
It’s amazing how prevalent unhappiness is in our world today. With all that we’ve learned through modern psychology and medical science, you would think that we would be living in the happiest of times. Yet depression and anxiety-related disorders are on the rise. And I’m not just talking about those who don’t know Jesus. Christians are also affected.
Becoming a Christian doesn’t automatically result in happiness for the rest of your life. There are skills and truths you need to learn from the Bible so you can live the life God has for you. For example, some struggle to believe that God wants us to be happy. However, when you find the word “blessed” in the Amplified Bible, often “happy, fortunate and to be envied” appears in brackets. God wants to bless us, and happiness is a part of that blessing.
According to this full definition of “blessed,” God also wants us to be envied. He wants every believer to live with such joy and peace that others are envious. In fact, this is the primary way we reach people for Christ. The Bible says it’s the goodness of God that leads people to Him, so when others see God’s goodness in how He blesses you and me, they want what we have.
God doesn’t promise you a perfect life. You may go through tough seasons, but you can have a life filled with joy! If you are not experiencing this joy, keep reading over the next few days. You’ll discover the traps people become caught in as they try to find happiness and you’ll learn several skills you can build to experience more joy in your life.