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This is how I feel
Some people's lives were set for happiness from the start. It doesn't matter if others eventually become better later on, because their best years are long gone, their childhood memories are better forgotten, their youth has faded. so WORK HARDER and YOU’LL STILL BE (less) HAPPIER.
I also know this sounds unreasonable
Was just reading the thread about "knowing yourself" and I think I unfortunately know what I am. I fear I will never be happy and it is not just a thought, I see I have been unhappy for as long as I can remember. Apologies if I am sounding too psychological here
I also know this sounds unreasonable
Was just reading the thread about "knowing yourself" and I think I unfortunately know what I am. I fear I will never be happy and it is not just a thought, I see I have been unhappy for as long as I can remember. Apologies if I am sounding too psychological here
Comments
Unless there are angels replying to this thread, I'm sure every person has needs and wants and at least deep down they want to be happy.
I thought God wanted us to be happy?
Others have nearly no problems yet are not happy.
Would you believe that to be possible?
but my life did get much better after i left school, and then it got better as i left home too.
it got better again after i became orthodox. so for me, although life has been hard sometimes, it keeps getting better. that's why i am 'mabsoota'
;)
i think the key is to accept the suffering in your life and not fight it all the time. about 4 years ago i was really struggling with a terrible bully boss at work and other more personal problems and one night i was sat on my bed, alone, crying and telling God 'i can't take any more'.
then i remembered how His ways are higher than ours (isaiah 55) and how all things work together for our good (our spiritual growth, our heavenly reward).
so i started to pray differently, and told God 'ok if You think i can take more stress then that's ok with me, i will accept it'.
after that i felt real peace from God and was able to accept the troubles (boss trying to make me unemployed etc.) it was several months before i left that work place and went somewhere better, but in that time God gave me the peace i needed.
i also visited my family doctor who gave me some very valuable advice and insights.
so i advise anyone in this situation to talk to your priest and your doctor.
and keep talking to God. no one is 'destined' to be unhappy.
being close to God and bravely facing your problems brings true contentment.
think about baba shenouda, he had such a heavy burden to carry and so much work to do despite his sickness, but he still had moments of peace and joy in the middle of so much trouble. this is true happiness.
GOD BLESS! Pray for me.
All things work together for good for those who love God
A time for everything under the sun
Ecclesiastes
And seen the end that was intended by the Lord that He is very merciful and compassionate
No Christian will have good times forever
But after every dark night joy comes in the morning
Like Job God has ordained prosperity and sorrow each in their own appointed time
But I heard in a tv show
Happiness is something you have to work hard to find
it's like finding balance in life you must never give up
Did not God say seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be given to you
I had been depressed for a very long time and suffer until now a blank mind
Possibly a thorn in the flesh to teach me to read the bible and pray more so u can see it is God which gives me happiness and it does not come independent from His guidance for the verse says trust in the Lord with all your heart and in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths
And may He give you your hearts desires and fulfill all your petitions
We will be glad in your salvation
The psalm says bless the Lord o my soul who heals all your diseases
The Lord does not want to see us suffer
It is said God will withdraw no good thing from those who walk uprightly
But He still wants our heart above all and will do anything to get it
Beloved I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health even as your soul prospers
Learn to value what you have got.
Happiness is a fruit of the fruits the Holy Spirit gives to us.
- What he said really hit home because the same exact thing whether it be positive or negative can happen to two different people but one will accept the situation and internalize it in a positive and joyful manner and the other will internalize it in a negative and pessimistic manner.
I hope that makes some sense?
When I find the video, I will post the link. I am sorry, I am not finding it at the moment
but you must continue to show your love to God by suffering for Him for all eternity with no reward what so ever
Sorry to be insulting but if you think it is evil to have worldly things then God willing when we go to heaven I say you can forget about having any riches in heaven also
but you must continue to show your love to God by suffering for Him for all eternity with no reward what so ever
Can you explain this better? I am not sure I understand what you are saying.
Jesus came that we may have abundant life here or at least in the age to come
Jesus said seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you for God knows you need these things which proves God wants us to be happy
From the post I made above it shows that God wants us to be happy but does not want those things to turn us away from Him and working out our salvation
But perhaps most people will be caught up with desires for other things choking the word and then being unfruitful myself included
Yes it is true that God wants us to love Him with all our heart but He knows like new wine in old skins we can break and He allows worldly pleasures when you are tired from hard work
Because it is not that we love God but that He loved us
Also to prove He wants us to be happy
He made six days for work and He said my yoke is easy and my burden is light
And He said make friends with unrighteousness mammon
We must make use of worldly things to serve God perhaps
The parable of the talents is very important to show that we are to trade and be worldly people
Please stop trying to give people these 'religious' ideas of harsh life and lots of rules when everyone is looking for pleasure in their lives, everyone. I could do without the hypocritical comments. Also I am sure this is not a good representation of Christianity, making it sound like a cult?
I am a person and I live in real life. I am not a monk/nun, I don't live in the desert and I have to deal with everyday life. So if there are people who still think happiness is wrong then you should not be on the internet, you are wasting time, shouldn't you be praying all day and waiting for eternal life?
Not seeking happiness is not the same as being miserable. But it means that we don't make the object of our lives something that we have, in any case, no control over at all.
If a person is depressed or suicidal then they need help. But that which God offers those who seek him is beyond all merely human happiness and is a lasting peace and joy.
Happiness is not wrong, and when we have times of happiness they are a gift from God. But it is a mistake to make happiness the object of our life. The object of our life is to seek God, and this is often difficult, full of trials and obstacles, but entirely worth the effort.
Not seeking happiness is not the same as being miserable. But it means that we don't make the object of our lives something that we have, in any case, no control over at all.
If a person is depressed or suicidal then they need help. But that which God offers those who seek him is beyond all merely human happiness and is a lasting peace and joy.
I think Fr. Peter brought up a good point. Happiness is a temporary feeling or emotion, but joy comes from God and is eternal. "Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you." John 16:22
(The previous comment about suicide was an exaggeration)
I am a very pessimistic person naturally, so I am always thinking of the worst in any situation, never mind how irrational it might sound. So I don't know how to feel, how to approach life? So I must have had temporary, moments of happiness in my life, but even during these brief moments, I still felt unsatisfied somehow.
I know there is a 'thankful' feeling, but this is not what I am referring to.
For those of you who figured out life / feel happy: How does it feel? How did you achieve this?
A true life, a complete life, is lived in Christ.
Yet, Christ says, 'In this world you will have tribulation'. Within tribulation, can we truly be happy? I think it's quite inconceivable (personal opinion). Yet, I would very strongly argue, you can be joyful. For 'be of good cheer, I have overcome the world', He says. No matter what we are facing, without Christ, I cannot feel or live in Joy. For without Christ, we cannot overcome the world and it's tribulation. With Christ however, I remain unshaken through tribulation. Yet, knowledge and life with Christ is without ends, without boundary. There is so much to learn, that day by day, if I live with Him, pray to Him, enjoy Him, I find out that there is more and more joy to be found.
I pray that we keep our eyes focus on Christ, enjoy this Joyful period of Resurrection. I pray that we may rise together and grow more and more in Christ and that we all pray for each other to partake of the Resurrection and the fullness of joy which is only found in Christ.