Book: 21 unbreakable laws of life

1. THE LAW OF HAPPINESS - AN UNEXPECTED GIFT.
*Happiness isn't found by pursuing it;
It is a by-product of pursuing God.*

- In Your presence is fulness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalms 16:11

What do most people want out of life?
- Most people wants to be happy.

People have different views as what would it take to make them happy while others persues happiness. Money makes some people happy while others are happy in poverty. Not that they are happy about their poorness but at least they have each other to support and get each other's back.

Blaise Pascal once said that,

'All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attending with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this objective. This is the motive of every man, even of those who hang themselves.'

As christians, we may be vaguely uncomfortable admitting happiness is a priority for us. It doesn't sound spiritual. Yet the bible doesn't seem to shy away from presenting happiness as a valid longing;

Psalms 42:1-2 says,
As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for You, o God.
I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before Him?

Psalms 63:1 says,
O God, You are my God;
I earnestly search for You.
My soul thirst for You;
My whole body longs for You
In this parched and weary lands
Where there is no water.

Psalms 16:11 says,
You will show me the way of life,
Granting me the joy of Your presence
And the pleasure of living with You forever.

The verses above states of deep longings we have and implies that fulfillment of these longings, as well as joy and pleasure, are things God does not find objectionable in humanity. Rather, He seems to encourage it as long as our pursuit of happiness is centered in Him.

How can we be happy?
-> by pursuing God, and trusting Him for happiness.

According to Max Anders;

'if happiness for us comes only through maintaining a sufficient flow of favorable circumstances, life will be pretty hard on most of us. First, we cannot be happy merely withe pleasurable circumstances. Pleasurable circumstances make good frosting but not a good cake. Second, even if circumstances could make us happy, we cannot control them adequately enough to bring us consistent happiness.'

Ok I'll continue the part about pleasurable circumstances later today. Its getting really late(2am) ahaha. So yeah. I'll continue later. :)