A Right to Happiness?

I believe that the reoccurring debate of our right to happiness is reflective of the American culture. One of the things that we, as Americans, pride ourselves on and highly value is our long list of rights based on the freedom of our country. Many other countries possess such freedom and rights, but the American mindset seems quite obsessed with its rights more than many other countries. I do not think this is right or wrong; it simply is.

As American culture places so much emphasis on our political rights, it is simultaneously creating a culture in which people like to believe that these are not only political rights, but also God-given rights. This is where I see the danger of the American mindset and its focus on our rights. God created us to glorify Him and to draw near to Him, not to be happy. Yet just as a father delights in giving a gift to his children, so God delights in blessing us with moments of happiness (a state of being that results from outside circumstances); but God never promised us happiness. He did, however, promise that we would experience trials. These difficult circumstances are no reason (and should not be reason) for happiness much of the time. However we still have cause for joy, because joy is not rooted in circumstances; it is rooted in Christ’s powerful love and results from the supernatural hope God graciously gives us. This kind of joy far surpasses any form of happiness. True, we may at times experience happiness from our relationship with God. But God has guaranteed that we will not always experience happiness. That is why God’s joy is so powerful and mighty – because it transcends circumstances and happiness. If we were always happy, joy from the Spirit would not be the same radical testimony to God's work in us.

As Christians, we not only have a right to experience God’s joy, we are commanded to be joyful! In our joy we do not deny the trial and circumstances, but we embrace that God’s plan and purpose is so much bigger than our circumstances. James 1: 2-4 says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” When a child dies or a friend is diagnosed with cancer, God does not call us to be happy. He commands us to weep with those who weep when these events occur. But instead He calls us to have joy, the fruit of our eternal hope in the Lord, because we look towards God’s purpose and His coming Kingdom with hope. Ironically enough, when such times come we may want to cling to our right to not be joyful. Yet it is not so much that we have a right to be joyful, but that we do not have the right to not be joyful.