The Pursuit of Happiness
How Do You Define Perfect Happiness?
To be in a state of perfect happiness is to experience a profound sense of joy within oneself and the world around. One person beautifully described this state, “I experience perfect happiness at the start of almost every day. I sip fresh coffee, beginning in the pre-dawn stillness and through the coming of the light.”
This truly resonates with me. My mornings commence with a cup of coffee, followed by time spent in the Word and prayer. I also dedicate moments to journaling and making entries in my Gratitude Journal as the sun rises.
True Happiness Is Found Within
“Happiness is not out there; it’s in you.”
This adage underscores an essential truth: happiness is intrinsically tied to our internal state rather than external events.
As life unfolds, both just and unjust experience rain. Not everything is pleasant. We encounter challenges, and not all events favor us or our loved ones.
Life is 10% circumstances;
90% attitude.
Corrie ten Boom aptly put it, “Happiness isn’t something that depends on our surroundings; it’s something we make inside ourselves.”
Indeed, life is 10% circumstances and 90% our attitude towards them. Joy, however, comes from a right relationship with God. Throughout my life, I’ve strived to maintain this relationship, praying, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Ps. 51:12, NIV) whenever I felt my joy diminish.
Attitude Is Just About Everything
When you fail, apologize swiftly
A happy life is built on holiness and righteousness: “holy and without blame before God in love” (Eph. 1:4).
Holiness starts at the Cross and is practiced daily. When life challenges us, our true nature should reflect our trust in the Lord. I often pray, “Lord, make me like You today in every attitude and action.” When I fail, I repent and apologize swiftly.
Attitude determines altitude
My happiness is deeply connected to maintaining a positive attitude. “Attitude determines altitude” is as true in life as it is in aviation. Gratitude heavily influences attitude.
Focusing on God’s goodness lifts my spirits. This changed my Journal of Answered Prayer into a Gratitude Journal during early COVID-19. Each day, I noted 3 to 5 things I was thankful for. By January 2023, I neared 600 pages in No. 10 font, with over 5000 entries by December 2022.
Learn to Think Positively
Attitudes are contagious!
“Whatever is pure, lovely… think on these things.” A positive attitude influences those around us. It takes ten positive people to counter one negative individual.
John C. Maxwell tweeted, “The leaders set the tone more than anyone else on a team, in a department, or for an organization. Their attitude is contagious. If they are positive, encouraging, and open to growth, so are their people.” This philosophy contributed to the growth and vitality of every church I served as a Lead Pastor.
Before I pastored my first church in Melbourne, FL, my father advised, “Son, learn not to react… Respond, don’t react.” While great in theory, this was challenging in practice. “Maintaining the right attitude is easier than regaining the right attitude,” states John C. Maxwell.
During difficult times, I prayed Psalm 51:10, “Renew a right spirit within me… restore to me the joy of my salvation.” Mahatma Gandhi captured the essence of happiness, saying, “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony,” particularly with God’s will.
Find Joy in Achievement
Allow God to work through your challenges!
Another dimension of perfect happiness is the joy of achievement. Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.”
Reflecting on my pastoral journey since 1971, I never imagined the achievements God enabled me to accomplish. Serving as a leader of pastors and churches for 19 years, I saw God work through our efforts despite challenges.
“Happiness comes when you feel satisfied and fulfilled. Happiness is a feeling of contentment, that life is just as it should be.”
The highest joy in my pastoral career was revitalizing struggling churches. Each endeavor demanded hard, challenging work, often not suited for the faint-hearted. Turnaround churches rarely succeed after significant decline. Yet, with continual prayer and divine guidance, we witnessed new life in these congregations.
The joy of seeing God breathe life into discouraged people was indescribable. Our aim was always to leave churches better off, and it thrills me that all except one continue to thrive.
Triumph Amidst Trials
Give your best,
leave the rest
Only once did I become an unintentional interim pastor. We avoided messy endings and ensured smooth transitions.
Perfect happiness lies in the leadership God granted us. We gave our best, loved people, and brought hope to a hurting world. Countless individuals came to Christ through our 50+ years of ministry. It’s a joy beyond measure!
George Bernard Shaw captures the essence of true joy: “This is the true joy in life — being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”
In summary, perfect happiness intertwines attitude, gratitude, faith, and the joy of serving others. It emanates from within, influenced by our relationship with God and nurtured by our positive outlook and thankfulness. As we strive for a holy, righteous life, may we find joy in every step of the journey, knowing that happiness isn’t a destination but a state of being.
