River Church NOLA
Sunday, March 15 Be Happy?
  • Better Than Life
  • I Speak Jesus
  • Walk With Me
  • Gracefully Broken
  • Over the past two weeks in this series, God Never Said That, we’ve been learning how easy it is to believe things about God that sound right—but slowly shape our faith in the wrong direction.
    Sayings like:  God helps those who help themselves... everything happens for a reason... follow your heart... God wants you to be happy... God needed another angel in heaven... cleanliness is next to godliness... Money is the root of all evil...
    In Week 1, we confronted the idea that “God will never give you more than you can handle,” and we discovered that God doesn’t promise an easy life—He promises His presence and strength when life overwhelms us.
    Last week, we wrestled with the phrase “forgive and forget,” and we learned that God never asks us to deny our pain or erase our memories. Instead, He invites us into forgiveness that heals our hearts and sets us free.
    Both of those weeks revealed something important: 

    God is far more interested in who we are becoming than in how comfortable we feel.

    Romans 8:28–29 NLT
    28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
    God’s purpose is for us to become more and more like Jesus.
    And that brings us to another phrase many of us have assumed is true, or at least we live like it—sometimes without even realizing it: 

    “God just wants you to be happy.”

    The phrase “God just wants you to be happy” is a common statement people make, but biblically it’s a partial truth that can easily become misleading.
    In the United States we have been pursuing happiness for over 250 years.  Will Smith made a movie titled The Pursuit of Happiness.  Our Declaration of Independence, the Founding Fathers affirmed a belief that God has endowed human beings with certain inalienable rights; among them…   We believe we have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. 
    This idea that God wants us to be happy is a kind of Therapeutic Christianity—the idea that God exists mainly to improve our feelings, self-esteem, or personal fulfillment—that theme connects closely with what sociologists call Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. In this mindset, God becomes more like a life coach whose job is to make people feel good rather than a Lord who calls people to repentance and holiness. God is reframed as the one affirming their desires, rather than the one calling them to faithfulness.
    So these beliefs come out in different ways…
    People say, “God wants me to be happy”- Someone leaves their spouse for a new relationship and says, “I think God wants me to be happy.” NOT - God will never contradict His written word and he never said that was ok.
    We see Christianity as “emotional therapy” - A person attends church mainly because: it helps them reduce stress; it makes them feel encouraged; it boosts self-confidence. And these are great. But there is little concern for repentance, holiness, or obedience. They come and feel good on Sunday and live on our own terms the rest of week.
    Selective Bible reading - We embrace comforting saying like: “God has a wonderful plan for your life.” But we ignore passages about: self-denial; times of suffering, holy living, obedience, taking up the cross… forgiving people we don’t want to.
    Prayer becomes emotional reassurance- Prayer becomes mostly: “God help me feel better”… “God give me peace”… “God fix my problems”
    We avoid uncomfortable sermons- A person chooses churches where sermons are: uplifting; motivational; encouraging. Those in and of themselves are not bad. But we avoid churches that preach about: sin; repentance; judgment; sacrifice… instead of seeking God’s will or confessing sin.
    Faith and self-esteem become almost interchangeable: The message becomes: “God loves you just the way you are.” Which is true in one sense, but incomplete without the second half: “God loves you too much to leave you that way.”
    We Redefine sin: Instead of saying something is sinful, people say: “That’s just your truth.”… There actually is real truth. It’s not mine nor is it yours… it’s God’s. “God understands.” No he doesn’t. …“As long as you’re happy.” Sin becomes reframed as personal authenticity. Sin become issues.
    We Treat God like a life coach: God is viewed as someone who: helps you achieve your dreams… improves your self-image… supports your goals rather than the King who calls you to surrender your life.
    We practice Spirituality without repentance - People say things like: “I’m spiritual but not religious.”… “I believe in God, but I don’t believe in organized religion.” Often this means wanting comfort from God without accountability to Him. Jesus established the church.
    Christianity as like positive thinking - Faith becomes similar to motivational speaking: Believe in yourself… Speak positivity… Visualize success rather than trusting in Christ and submitting to His authority.
    All this sounds harmless. Even kind. But if that were true, what do we do with difficulties and suffering? What do we do with sacrifice, obedience, or times that feel anything but happy?
    God is not merely a therapist who affirms us. He is a Savior who confronts our sin and heals our souls. And healing always begins with truth.”
    Today, we’re going to discover that while God cares deeply about our joy, His goal for our lives goes far deeper than temporary happiness. He is shaping us—forming us—drawing us into a life rooted in Him. And sometimes, the path to that kind of joy doesn’t avoid hardship. Sometimes, it goes straight through it.
    Because God never said His highest priority was your happiness— but what He did say leads to a joy that lasts.
    So if happiness isn’t the ultimate goal, we need to ask a deeper question: 

    What is God actually after in our lives? 

    To answer that, we first need to understand the difference between the happiness we chase and the joy God promises to provide. And Scripture is very clear about that distinction.

    1. Happiness is temporary, but biblical joy is rooted and enduring.

    When we say, “God just wants you to be happy,” what we usually mean is that God wants us to feel good, comfortable, and satisfied with how life is going.
    And to be clear, happiness itself is not bad. It’s a gift. It’s something to enjoy and give thanks for.
    Maybe you get a big raise at your job… or a different ad better job and that makes you happy.
    Maybe you see your child or grand baby or niece or nephew’s born - that makes you happy.
    Maybe you see your kids making good choices and that makes you happy.
    You get the new iPhone and that makes you happy… or a new car…
    All sorts of things can make us happy, and those are gifts from God.
    But Scripture never presents happiness as the goal of the Christian life. Why? Because happiness is almost always tied to circumstances—and circumstances change.
    That big raise soon will not be enough… or the job changes and isn’t what you want anymore.
    Grandbabies grow up… sometimes don’t do the things you hoped or live the way you wished.
    That new iPhone will be replaced with a nicer more expensive one later in the year.
    That new care soon is just something to get you from point A to point B
    Biblical joy, on the other hand, is something far deeper. It is rooted not in what is happening around us, but in who God is and what He is doing within us. 
    Jesus makes this distinction in John 15:9-11
    John 15:9–11 NLT
    9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
    Notice what Jesus connects joy to—not comfort, not ease, not success—but remaining in His love and obedience to the Father. Joy, in Scripture, is relational before it is emotional. It grows out of intimacy with God, not favorable conditions.
    This is why the Bible can speak honestly about joy even in hardship. James says we can “consider it pure joy” when we face trials—not because trials feel good, but because God uses them to mature our faith.
    James 1:2–3 “ Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”
    Happiness asks, “Is this making me feel good right now?” Joy asks, “Is God forming something lasting in me?”
    This is also why Scripture never promises that following Jesus will always feel pleasant. But it does promise that God is always at work. 
    Paul teaches in Phil 1:6
    Philippians 1:6 NLT
    6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

    God’s commitment is not to your constant happiness—it is to your ongoing transformation.

    And that transformation often happens in difficult times that stretch us, refine us, and sometimes even break our expectations of what a “good life” looks like.

    Joy doesn’t mean the absence of sorrow. It means the presence of God in the middle of the struggle.

    And when joy is rooted in Him, it becomes something circumstances can’t steal.
    Horatio Spaford - One of the most powerful historical examples of joy in the middle of deep suffering comes from the story of Horatio Spafford and the hymn **It Is Well with My Soul.
    In 1873, Spafford’s family planned a trip to Europe. Because of business delays, he sent his wife and four daughters ahead on a ship across the Atlantic.
    During the voyage, the ship collided with another vessel and sank. Over 200 people died.
    Spafford’s wife survived, but their four daughters drowned.
    When she finally reached land, she sent her husband a simple telegram that read:
    “Saved alone.”
    Spafford immediately boarded a ship to cross the Atlantic to join her. As his ship passed near the place where his daughters had died, the captain reportedly informed him that they were near the location of the wreck.
    Standing on the deck, overwhelmed with grief, Spafford wrote words that Christians have sung for generations:
    “When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.”
    That is joy that does not depend on circumstances.

    2. God’s goal is transformation which leads to deeper joy.

    If we believe that God’s main goal is our happiness, then anything uncomfortable will feel like a problem. But if God’s goal is transformation, then even difficult seasons take on new meaning. Scripture is clear that God is not primarily shaping our circumstances—He is shaping us.  Peter writes in 1 Pet 1:15-16
    1 Peter 1:15–16 NLT
    15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
    Holiness here does not mean perfection or moral superiority. It means being set apart—formed into the likeness of Christ. And that process is rarely easy.
    AW Tozer said,
    A god who is all tolerance and no holiness would not be the God of the Bible

    Transformation often involves surrender, pruning, and saying no to things that promise happiness but ultimately leave us empty.

    Jesus uses this exact language in John 15 when He talks about pruning branches—not to harm them, but so they can bear more fruit. Growth is rarely comfortable, but it is always purposeful.
    Paul agains says in Phil 1:6
    Philippians 1:6 NLT
    6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
    That means the season you’re in—no matter how confusing or painful—is not random or wasted.
    God is not withholding joy from you. He is forming the kind of heart that can sustain it. This is where happiness often falls short because happiness seeks relief, but holiness seeks renewal.

    Happiness asks God to change the situation. Holiness asks God to change us in the situation.

    And here’s the surprising truth Scripture reveals: The deepest joy flows from a life aligned with God’s purposes. Jesus never promised a life free from sacrifice. He himself suffered much in this life. But He did promise a life filled with meaning, fruit, and lasting joy.
    And when we trust God’s transforming work—especially when it’s uncomfortable—we discover that joy is not something we chase. It’s something that grows as we are rooted in Him.
    Personal story about a difficult time that produced joy and what it taught me about the difference between joy and happiness. maybe leaving hospital work to do YFC?

    3. Lasting Joy is found in trusting God through every season.

    One of the reasons the phrase “God just wants you to be happy” doesn’t hold up is that happiness depends on the circumstances you’re in.
    When life is smooth, happiness feels easy. When life is painful, happiness can feel out of reach.
    But Scripture points us toward a joy that is not seasonal—it is sustained. Jesus says in John 15:11
    John 15:11 NLT
    11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
    That kind of joy doesn’t come from avoiding hardship. It comes from abiding—remaining—in Him. It comes from being daily connected to Jesus by spending time in prayer, getting into His word…

    Joy is not the reward for a problem-free life. It is the fruit of a life rooted in Christ.

    This is why the New Testament can speak honestly about joy alongside suffering. Paul writes most of it from prison—from prison he writes about rejoicing, contentment, and hope.
    Joy does not deny grief. It learns to coexist with it.
    And this is where faith becomes deeply practical.
    Trusting God through every season means choosing obedience even when it’s hard. It means believing God is at work even when progress feels slow. It means trusting that the story God is writing is bigger than the moment you’re living in.
    Scripture reminds us again and again that joy is sustained by hope:
    Hope that God is near.
    Hope that God is faithful.
    Hope that God is not finished yet.
    Hope that God will come through on His promises.
    And that hope allows us to say, even in difficult seasons, “God, I don’t feel happy—but I trust You.” That trust doesn’t diminish joy. It deepens it.
    Because when joy is anchored in God, not circumstances, it becomes something no season, circumstance, or situation can steal.
     
    Conclusion
    Over these past three weeks, we’ve been unlearning some phrases that sound comforting but quietly distort our faith. At worst, these cliches can lull us into believing half-truths about God and how He interacts with us.
    We’ve learned that God never promised life would stay within our ability to handle it all—but He did promise His strength when we are overwhelmed. We’ve learned that God never asked us to forgive by forgetting, but He does offer freedom when we release bitterness and trust Him with justice. And today, we’ve seen that while happiness is a gift, it was never God’s highest goal for our lives.
    God is after something deeper. He is forming you—shaping you—rooting you in Him.
    And the joy God offers isn’t fragile. It doesn’t disappear when life gets hard. It grows when we trust Him through every season.
    So maybe the invitation today is to

    Stop asking, “Does this make me happy?” and start asking, “Is God forming something lasting in me?”

    Because God never said His main goal was your comfort— but what He did say leads to a joy that endures. You can only have that kind of joy when you have the most important relationship you will ever have… with God through Jesus Christ.
    God loves you and created you to have a personal relationship with Him.
    Let’s look at this…
    God Created you in His image. Gen
    Psalm 139:13–14 “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.”
    Dollar Bill Story.
    God Loves you.
    John 3:16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
    God wants you to know Him
    John 17:3 “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.”
    Why is it that so many of us do not have a personal relationship with God? Why are so many of us not experiencing the wonderful things God has in store for us?
    Our Sin keeps us from having a personal relationship with God.
    Sin is not living the way God wants us to live OR living our lives like God doesn’t exist.
    James 4:17 “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”
    We have all sinned.
    Isaiah 53:6 “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.”
    Romans 3:23 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
    This brings to mind the question. What happens when we sin?
    Genesis 2:16–17 “But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.””
    Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
    Revelation 20:11–15 “And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
    Sin causes a gap between us and God.  Death, which means eternal separation from God in Hell, is the penalty for our sin.
    What is the solution to our problem?  What is the solution to our separation from God?  We have to find some way to get back with God.  That’s what all of the other religions do – try to get to God.  Christianity is God coming to us.
    Only through a relationship with Jesus can we have a personal relationship with God.
    You may ask, Why Jesus? He is the only one who paid for your sins and mine.
    John 14:6 “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
    It’s only through Jesus that we can have a relationship with God.
    Why did Jesus have to die?
    1 Peter 3:18 “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.”
    God told Adam that if he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he would die.  Someone has to die for sins, either us, or Jesus.  Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins, so that we could be forgiven.  Remember, we had earned the death penalty.
    After He died for our sins, Jesus rose from the dead to give us eternal life.
    Simon Greenleaf -
    1 Corinthians 15:3–6 Paul - “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.”
    We must personal respond by trusting Jesus as our Savior and Lord.
    You respond with trust or faith in Jesus.
    Ephesians 2:8–9 “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
    We must trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of our sins and to guide our lives.
    You respond by turning from sin towards God. - Repentance
    Acts 3:19 Peter - “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.”
    You respond by receiving Jesus.
    John 1:12 “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”
    So Receiving Christ means:
    1. Turing to God from your own way of living.  (repentance)
    2. Inviting Christ to come into your life and trusting him to forgive your sin.
    3. Allowing God to direct your life.
    Receiving Christ in not just an emotional experience; nor is it just agreeing in your mind that Jesus is the Son of God.  It means total trust, an act of your will.
    We are all in one of these three scenarios.
    1. We don’t have a personal relationship with Christ.
    2. We want a personal relationship with Christ.
    3. We have a personal relationship with Christ.
    Where are you today?
    Prayer
    Next week, we’ll come to the final phrase in this series: “Everything happens for a reason.” We’ll wrestle honestly with suffering, loss, and questions that don’t have easy answers—and we’ll discover how God works redemption even in the broken places of our lives.
    Because God never said everything would make sense— but He did promise to be at work, even when it doesn’t.
    Let’s pray together.

      • Romans 8:28–29NIV

      • John 15:9–11NIV

      • Philippians 1:6NIV

      • 1 Peter 1:15–16NIV

      • Philippians 1:6NIV

      • John 15:11NIV

      • Psalm 139:13–14NIV

      • John 3:16NIV

      • John 17:3NIV

      • James 4:17NIV

      • Isaiah 53:6NIV

      • Romans 3:23NIV

      • Revelation 20:11–15NIV

      • John 14:6NIV

      • 1 Peter 3:18NIV

      • 1 Corinthians 15:3–6NIV

      • Ephesians 2:8–9NIV

      • Acts 3:19NIV

      • John 1:12NIV

River Church NOLA
robert@riverchurchnola.com
504-578-8317
https://riverchurchnola.com
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