Choosing Joy: Finding Happiness Amidst Life's Challenges

God says that happiness is a choice. It's not based on circumstances; it's based on choices. You must choose happiness. Now, happiness is not something you look for. That's what many people mistake. It's not something you look for. If you look for it, you're not going to find it. Happiness is something you create. [00:03:08]

The truth is, regardless of your circumstances, no matter what's going on in your life right now, no matter what's happening in your life, you are as happy as you choose to be. You can't blame anybody else for your unhappiness. And regardless of the pain, regardless of pressure, regardless of other people, and regardless of problems in your life, you are as happy as you choose to be. [00:03:34]

Remember, God can bring good out of anything. That's the first choice. I choose to remember that God can bring good out of anything. Now, of course, Romans 8:28, that famous verse of scripture in the Bible, says this: We know, not we guess, we know that in all that happens, all that happens, that's the good, the bad, and the ugly, we know that all in all that happens, God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. [00:06:36]

Happy people have a larger perspective. Happy people see a bigger picture. They look past the pain, the people, the problems, and the pressure, and they see a bigger picture. What is the bigger picture? Romans 8:28, that we know that no matter what happens, God is working for good in our lives. [00:09:16]

Never let others control my attitude. Never let others, either by their words or by their actions, control my attitude. They can't control you unless you allow them to control you by their words or by their actions. Now, while Paul was in prison, there were people who criticized his ministry. [00:19:44]

You don't need other people's approval or permission to be happy. You don't need other people's approval to be happy. You don't need other people's permission to be happy. Happiness is a choice. You're happy as you choose to be. So he deals with critics in verse 15. [00:20:56]

I can be happy no matter what happens if I choose to write this down: trust God to always work things out. That's the third key. I must trust God to always work things out, whether it's pain or pressure or problems or people. This is the third faith factor in happiness. [00:28:39]

Trusting God when you don't see the whole picture and you can't see the end of the story gives you hope, it gives you courage, and it gives you happiness. Look at the next verse there in Philippians chapter 1, verse 20. It is my eager expectation—that's faith—and hope—that's hope. [00:31:59]

Finally, I can be happy no matter what happens in my life if I choose to do this fourth thing: stay focused on my purpose, not my problem. Stay focused on my purpose, the purpose of your life, God's purpose, not your problem. [00:34:00]

Happiness does not come from self-gratification, living for yourself. Happiness does not come from selfishness. It doesn't come from living a self-centered life all about me, me, me, myself, and I, the kingdom of me. Happiness never comes from selfishness. Happiness doesn't come from self-gratification. [00:37:12]

Paul sums up his entire purpose and the entire reason he is happy, regardless of what happens in his life. He sums it up in a single sentence, one of the most famous sentences in the Bible, Philippians chapter 1, verse 21. Paul says it here: Here's my purpose. He's purpose-driven. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. [00:38:09]

How you fill in that blank will determine your happiness for the rest of your life. For me to live is—and until you're able to say the right thing there, you're going to have a lot of misery in your life because all of those other things lead to unhappiness ultimately. There's only one answer that leads to happiness no matter what happens. [00:40:00]