Seth Udinski, FISM News
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According to a weekend report from the Wall Street Journal, one of the key indicators of happiness in America is the belief in God.
The poll surveyed over 1,000 adults over a span of two weeks in March of this year.
It comes as little surprise to many that the number of participants who identify as “very happy” has plummeted in the last five years. In 2018, the number of participants who claim to be very happy sat right around 31%, but in 2023, that number fell to 12%.
Meanwhile, the number of participants who described themselves as unhappy has gone in almost the exact opposite direction. The number of unhappy individuals in America went from roughly 13% in 2018 up to 30% this year.
Among the remnant that remains very happy, one of the common characteristics in these individuals is the belief in God. The report says,
They tend to say belief in God is important. Two-thirds describe themselves as very or moderately religious, compared with less than half of adults overall.
Additionally, the other commonalities among the supremely happy were healthy relationships and strong community involvement.
While the number of supremely happy individuals has gone and down and the unhappy has gone up, the number of moderately happy people remained the highest at 56% in 2023, with virtually no change from 2018.
Author’s Biblical Analysis
Common sense tells us, as Christians, that the results of this poll make complete sense.
The scripture reveals to us that “happy are those whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:15). I believe the reason is simple: Those whose confidence is in the Lord, whose eternal security is certain, are like trees with deep, strong roots. Their confidence is shaken by little when their confidence is in the Lord.
Now, we need to clarify the definition of true happiness. What is true happiness, according to the Scripture?
True happiness is finding complete satisfaction in God, and in our identity in Him.
If this is true happiness, let us not seek after worldly pleasures and vices that try to woo our hearts away from only one who can truly satisfy us. Let us rest in God and in our Savior Jesus Christ, who has given us complete assurance that no matter what we face in this life, our eternal future is secure in Him.
This is not spiritual masochism, nor is it foolish blindness to the troubles and trials we face. Instead, it is a possession of the right perspective. We know, at the end of all things, nothing else matters except our standing before God.
When we face trials of many kinds, we can rejoice knowing that these trials will be used by God for His glory, for the spread of the gospel, and ultimately for our joy as we are driven closer to Him.
So find true happiness not in stuff and popularity and human relationships, but in complete satisfaction in God.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! – Psalm 34:8