Happiness Where Art Thou?

Happiness, or an overall feeling of satisfaction continues to decline in America. This seems to have accelerated post pandemic, but it has been trending since the 1990’s (and likely well before).¹

While I realize that happiness and satisfaction are more ephemeral, and subjective to many transient factors beyond our control², their trend can be indicators of deeper spiritual realities. To live without hope or direction for a long time will bring down the trend line for overall happiness and satisfaction. Trying to draw meaning from things that do not give us meaning, or continuing to subject our consciences to our whims, will decline our sense of self-satisfaction. To know you are loved by God and that your life is both valuable and has significance will bring it up in the long term. Living and saying what you know to be true, without pretending for fear of repercussions, will lead to an increase in happiness and life satisfaction.³

Interesting to me was that in the bookstore on New Year’s Day, the aisle for “Personal Transformation” was packed, while the aisle for “Religion” was completely empty. People are hungry, but uncertain about where to look to solve the condition in which they find themselves. It would be too simplistic to assume that none know of Jesus, or that those struggling with the need for transformation aren’t themselves often already Christians.

Ever met a Christian struggling with their weight, or with grief, or with relational issues? Perhaps, in part, our churches are not sharing the virtues that the Saints are invited to live into, or that they are so preoccupied with getting people into heaven, they’ve abandoned the Saints to live in hell on Earth.

1. Many studies indicate this. Here is one: Americans are less happy than previous years, report finds | Here & Now ↩︎
2. I’m fairly certain that Jesus was not happy on the cross. He did however, offer peace. ↩︎
3. “Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.” Matthew 5:37 ↩︎