Have you ever watched the news and walked away feeling sad, frustrated, angry, or all of the above?
I sure have. I’ve even talked to God after watching the news, asking how He puts up with us. I mean look around you. This world is a mess. Look in the mirror. You and I are a mess. I’ve wondered how God could possibly be happy. Thoughts like these affect how we relate with God.
What we believe about God affects how we relate to Him as well. A belief that He’s sad, angry, disappointed or frustrated can cause us to avoid Him.
“If God is not a happy God, Christian Hedonism (the belief that pleasure or happiness is the most important goal in life) has no foundation. For the aim of the Christian Hedonist is to be happy in God, to delight in God, to cherish and enjoy his fellowship and favor. But children cannot enjoy the fellowship of their Father if he is unhappy. Therefore the foundation of Christian Hedonism is the happiness of God.” ~John Piper
Roadblocks That Prevent Us From Seeing God As Happy
We Humanize God
It’s hard to imagine God as always happy when we don’t know anyone like that. The only examples we have are fallible human beings. But God’s ways are far above ours.
“‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’”
Isaiah 55:8-9
God’s whole being is present everywhere at all times. He has infinite power. He knows everything. Nothing surprises Him.
God is omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10).
God is omnipotent (Jeremiah 32:17).
God is omniscient (1 John 3:20).
God Is Broken Up Over Our Daily Sin
Could our heavenly Father really be happy when every single day the people He created sin over and over again?
Yes, God hates sin (Psalm 2:12), but His plan for redemption of sin has been in place before He created the world or us (1 Peter 1:20). God rejoices over those who accept His plan of redemption through Jesus (Zephaniah 3:17)!
But what effect would it have in our lives if we believed that God is gloriously and infinitely happy?
The Bible says that God is happy and furthermore, loves being God. He also takes pleasure in all He does as wells as serving His people by working for their welfare. Paul writes in
1 Timothy 1:11 of “the glorious Good News of the blessed God.” Blessed is another word for happy.
God says in Jeremiah 32:41 “I will rejoice in doing them good.” Jesus said in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you.”
Jesus invites us to spend eternity with a happy God when he says, ‘Enter into the joy of your master’ (Matthew 25:23). Jesus lived and died that his joy—God’s joy— be in us and our joy might be full (John 15:11, 17:13). This is the message of the gospel.
The word gospel means “good news.” It would not be good news to spend eternity with an unhappy God. This means it wouldn’t be gospel at all.
Amen, Beckie! God’s amazing grace reigning through righteousness. (Romans 5:21) So wonderful to rest in God’s joy! Thanks for this post. 🙂
God must be a happy God, otherwise, how do we expect Him our Father to make us His Children happy?
Victor, Yes, I agree with you. Thanks for commenting.
You are welcome, Beckie
It is the Good News of Jesus! He came that we would have life, abundantly! Joy instead of sorrow, beauty for our ashes:) Good post? Blessings and thank you for sharing His happiness:) denise
Denise, thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment. Glad to meet another sister-in-Christ. Blessings on you, yours and your writing!
Thank you Beckie:) I am so blessed to meet you! I am enjoying your blog. Looking forward to becoming good neighbors:):) blessings:)
Lovely thoughts! Beckie, I have not thought about it.
Thanks for sharing.
God Bless
Thanks for stopping by Spotlight and taking the time to comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. Blessings to you and yours!
Thank you, Beckie, for this beautiful post. This is something God has been teaching me recently – it has revolutionized my walk with Him!
It’s so wonderful to hear that God is revolutionizing your walk with Him! I know this will reflect in your writing. Look forward to reading it! Blessings.