The strongest drive you have is not sex; it’s happiness. Happiness—#33 on my alphabetical list of 70 things every man needs to know—is the grand motive behind everything we do.

Blaise Pascal wrote, “All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others, avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. They will never take the least step but to that object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.”

However, in some quarters of Christianity, it is considered a virtue to suppress this truth. For example, I once heard a famous speaker tell a large audience to thunderous applause, “God calls us to be holy, not happy!”

Says who?

Not Jesus. Jesus said, “Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the kingdom of heaven belongs to them!” (Matthew 5:3, GNT). He said when you are persecuted, “Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven” (Matthew 5:12a, GNT).

I have always been frustrated when people try to elevate one idea by shredding another. It would be more accurate to say, “Happiness is the residue of holiness.”

Yes, God certainly does call us to lead a sanctified, sacred, and holy life. But it is equally true that God wants to help us become fully alive in Jesus and to live an abundant life filled with meaning, purpose, and significance. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you can’t be happy and holy at the same time. It’s not either/or; it’s both/and.

In fact, it’s our unhappiness—and desire to be happy—that motivates us to turn our hearts toward God and be “liberated from bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:21b, NIV). Happiness and holiness go together hand in glove, and one begets the other.

Here are three pathways to a more happy, holy life:

1. Alignment with purpose: True happiness often comes from aligning our lives with a deeper purpose. When we understand and pursue the unique roles God has for us, we find joy and fulfillment that transcends our circumstances.

2. Contentment in Christ: As Paul writes in Philippians 4:11-13, learning to be content in all situations is key. This contentment is rooted in our relationship with Christ, who strengthens us, reminding us that happiness is not dependent on external factors.

3. Serving others: Shifting our focus from ourselves to the needs of others can lead to profound happiness. When we serve and make a difference in the lives of those around us, we experience a joy that is both meaningful and lasting.  

Jesus is happy. He wants you to be happy, too. He wants to say to you on that day, “Well done, good and faithful servant! … Come and share your master’s happiness” (Matthew 25:21, 23, NIV).

Much love,

Pat

Questions for reflection and discussion: 

1. Have you ever felt guilty about pursuing happiness in your Christian walk?
2. What cultural or church-based messages have you received about happiness, and how have those messages helped or hindered your ability to live fully alive in Jesus?
3. Which of the three pathways to holy happiness—alignment with purpose, contentment in Christ, or serving others—resonates most with you in your current season of life, and why? What would it look like to grow in that area this week?