Did You Know That It’s Not Your Job To Make Anyone Happy?

Have you ever fallen into the trap of believing that you must make someone else happy? It is a misconception that I, too, have grappled with. We’ve all heard, “I just can’t seem to make her/him (spouse, boss, child, parent, friend) happy.”  Yet, it’s crucial to grasp that carrying this weight is not wise, healthy, or BIBLICAL. Happiness, you see, is a fleeting and conditional emotion, subject to the whims of circumstance. True joy, however, stands resilient in the face of life’s unpredictable currents. It is a treasure springing forth from a SOURCE unshaken by the ebb and flow of external situations. It comes only from God.

We do NOT have a Biblical obligation to make people happy; but, God DOES give us the command to show others how to walk in joy.

Where is that in the Bible? Well, to understand this, we must first consider the remarkable characteristics of God. He remains unchanged and unwavering, regardless of the ever-shifting human tapestry. He entered into the deepest part of human tragedy. Our sin sentenced us to eternal death and left us hopeless to ever experience the joy of God’s presence. God chose supernatural suffering beyond our greatest imagination to make a way for our redemption and reconciliation. His love transcends the constraints of human experience. In purchasing our gift of salvation, an unparalleled and unprecedented love was revealed.

A relationship with God is the only way to experience consistent joy because He is the only one who never changes.

When we are born again and embrace the precious gift of salvation, an unbreakable connection with God is forged. It forms the bedrock upon which true contentment is constructed. The relationship is the foundation of joy—the epitome of complete satisfaction that defies circumstance. Then—when life aligns to evoke even the most brief event of happiness, it intersects with joy, creating a symphony of remarkable celebration. Yet, as the curtain falls on those jubilant moments, joy does not dissipate. It leaves behind an enduring afterglow.

This enduring contentment, known as “joy,” comes only from knowing God; and without Him—it is not within human grasp.

Joy originates solely from the wellspring of God. Again, the Bible fails to substantiate the notion that our role is to be architects of the happiness of others. When you find yourself ensnared in the cycle of attempting to forge happiness for another, remind yourself of this fundamental truth—your job is to draw them to Jesus, the source of joy! Jesus instructed us how to experience the fullest of joy for the world to see:

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 

These things I have spoken to you, that My JOY may remain in you, and that your JOY may be FULL.

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭9‬-‭11‬

Dear friend, rest assured that true joy, that kind that remains unshaken by circumstance, is a gift that springs forth from the very heart of God. We are FULL of joy when we abide in His love by embracing His commands from our heart. Just like the faithful servant, we will one day enter into joy that is undimmed by the sadness and terror of this fallen world:

Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord. ‭‭‬‬

Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭21‬ ‭NKJV

Our life is to be a preview of the perfect joy that is to come. Knowing God is to know joy!

We would love to hear your thoughts about this devotional. Did God speak to you or challenge your daily walk with him? Or is there a topic that you would like Kimberly to cover or expound on? Please share with us in the comments below.

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