Holy ≠ Happy

When I was younger, I often didn't understand the rules my parents put in place. Usually, I just assumed they were being mean...of course, I now know that wasn't the case. My parents always made me wear a helmet whenever I rode my bike, as good parents do. I didn't really like wearing helmets though because I thought they made me look dumb. That said, when I was about 8 years old my mom took my sister and me on a biking trip. I think I should preface by saying, I have always been a bit of a klutz. Anyways, on the biking trip, I came across a big hill, and I couldn't wait to ride down it. I sped down as fast as I could and ended up losing control of the bike. As a result, I flew over the handlebars and hit the concrete pavement. It was a pretty epic fall if I do say so myself. I remember standing up in shock, trying to figure out if there was a part of me that didn't hurt. No sooner did I stand up that my sister started yelling, "HER HEAD IS BLEEDING!" at the top of her lungs. Immediately I started to panic, not even realizing I had hurt my head. The cute sunglasses I was wearing had impacted my head when I hit the ground, totally ruining a great pair of shades. Long story short, I can't imagine the injuries I would've suffered if I hadn't obeyed my mom's instructions to wear my helmet. You see, I was so fixated on the instant pleasure in front of me, that I couldn't even see the danger staring back.

Often times I think we mistake Christianity for being an easy religion that will grant us whatever we desire. Society tells us to do what makes us happy, but that statement is influenced by the culture, not the kingdom. We are not called to do what makes us happy, we are called to be obedient to God and glorify Him. God calls us to be a nation that is holy, meaning set apart. Holiness is not perfection, but it is to live differently and in a way that is obedient to the will of God. The fact of the matter is, living a life that is holy doesn't mean you're going to be living a life that is happy. God expects us to honor the Bible, no matter what it costs us to get there.

There is so much in today's society that lures us away from the Bible. We are being told that we can be whoever we want to be if it makes us happy, yet we deny God's perfect design in the process. As a consequence, we see millions of people searching high and low to find who they are, but they are continually being left empty because only God holds the answer. We are being told we should have sex with anyone and everyone because it makes us feel good and we deserve to have our desires met. Yet the Bible tells us that sex is meant to be a beautiful act between a man and a woman to consummate a marriage. The media glorifies sex, lust, and pornography, convincing the world that this is normal and okay. God clearly defines the role of sex within the bounds of marriage, and when anyone breaks those bounds, they are sinning against God. The world chases after wealth, telling us that if we have more money, we will be happy. Yet, when we get that money, we are only left wanting more. God expects us to honor His Word, but the lure of the world often keeps us from living in obedience. We end up believing the world will satisfy us and that the Word of God isn't powerful enough to get us there.

Following Christ isn't always sunshine and rainbows. When we receive salvation, we make a commitment to denying ourselves and following Him. Being obedient means looking away from the things that give us instant pleasure and turning towards the road God has prepared for us. It means sacrificing our pride, ego, selfish ambitions and wants. It means surrendering our earthly feelings and keeping our eyes on the brighter future God has laid out for us. The gift of salvation should bring about a change in heart. We should not be able to sit comfortably in our sin while walking closely with God at the same time. The closer we get to Him, the further we should run from our fleshly ways. It's just the natural effect God's righteousness has on us. If you are deliberately living in sin because you know God will forgive you as soon as you ask, you are not truly repenting. Repentance is not just feeling guilty for your sin and asking for forgiveness, it is turning away from your sin altogether. That's not to say we won't slip up sometimes because we will. My point is that we should actively be trying to turn away from our sinful habits every day because of our love and gratitude for Christ.

All that to be said, I'm not professing that God doesn't want you to be happy. I'm telling you that the greatest joy and satisfaction you can ever imagine is found in Christ Jesus. We are living in some dark times that tell us to do whatever makes us happy, but the Bible doesn't have that message written in it. Being a Christian is not an easy road; it never has been. Almost all the heroes we read about in the Bible were killed or imprisoned for their faith. So, holiness doesn't always guarantee happiness, but it is the most rewarding thing we will ever experience.

May your roots run deep, and your faith remain strong! As always, stay rooted, my friends! <3