Are you happy? Then your face should show it. You smile when you’re happy. That’s what Proverbs 15:13 says: “When people are happy, they smile…”.

Are You Happy Now That You Are God’s Child?

STM Bible Lesson

Lesson focus: James 5:13-18 (13). Bible lesson background: B. W. Johnson (via e-Sword) – Is any among you afflicted? Let him not swear, or engage in any improper use of the tongue, but let him pray. God is the Helper in such an hour. Is any merry? Let his joy be shown, not in wanton speech, but in singing praises. Prayer and thanksgiving are the appropriate expressions for each condition..

James 5:13 [read James 5:13-18 (13)]

Are you having troubles*? You should pray. Are you happy**? You should sing***. (ERV)

KJV: Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry^G2114? let him sing psalms.

Euthumeo – merry

G2114 εὐθυμέω euthumeo (ev-thï-me’-ō) v. to be joyful, be of good cheer, of good courage.

* troubles: to undergo hardship; KJV: afflicted. ** happy: cheerful; KJV: merry. *** sing: sing hymns, sing praise(s) [to God]; KJV: “sing psalms,” sing and play on a stringed instrument.

Well, are you happy? Hopefully, you do not have to think about it. If you are a child of the Creator of everything, you have at least one reason to be happy. God promised you eternal life (1 John 2:25). So, can you think of a better reason for happiness?

1. Live Forever with God

1 John 2:24-25 [read 1 John 2:24-27 (24-25)]

Keep in your heart what you have heard from the beginning. Then you will belong to the Son and to the Father if what you have heard from the beginning is in you. 25 And
He (the Son) has promised us life that lasts forever! (NLV)

KJV: Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

John 3:16 [read 3:1-21 (16)

God loved the people in the world so much that he gave his one and only Son to save them. As a result, everyone who believes in the Son will not die. Instead, they will live for ever with God.’ (EASY)

KJV: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I hope that these “happy” Scriptures will give you a more positive outlook on life.

2. Be Happy with What You Have

Psalms 16:5-9 [read Psalms 16:1-11 (5-9)]

Lord, everything you have given me is good. You have made my life secure. 6 I am very pleased with what you have given me. I am very happy with what I’ve received from you. 7 I will praise the Lord. He gives me good advice. Even at night my heart teaches me. 8 I know that the Lord is always with me. He is at my right hand. I will always be secure. 9 So my heart is glad. Joy is on my tongue. My body also will be secure. (NIRV)

KJV: The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. 6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. 7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Happiness is…

Happiness is good medicine, but sorrow is a disease.
Proverbs 17:22 (ERV)

Are You Happy Now?

‘Lord, lead, help, and teach me to live obedient to your word…’ Are you happy when you know you are pleasing God by obeying Him? Is it your desire to obey and please the Lord? Take a look at what the Psalmist asked of the Lord. What a powerful prayer! When feeling down, turn to God for help, just like the Psalmist did. You may need to adjust your thinking and change your desire. Let God help you.

3. Delight in Obedience to God

Psalms 119:33-40 [read Psalms 119:33-40]

Lord, teach me your laws, and I will always follow them. 34 Help me understand your teachings, and I will follow them. Obeying them will be my greatest desire. 35
Help me follow your commands, because that makes me happy.
36 Give me the desire to follow your rules, not the desire to get rich. 37 Don’t let me look at worthless things. Help me live your way. 38 Do what you promised me, your servant, so that people will respect you
39 Take away the shame I fear. Your laws are good. 40 See how much I want to obey your instructions! Be good to me, and let me live. (ERV)

KJV: Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. 35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. 37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. 38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. 39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good. 40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

Keys to blessings (happiness)

Jesus started his ministry in a way that differed from everyone else. Other teachers had taught that happiness was to be found in honor, riches, splendor, or sensual pleasure. Jesus overlooked all those things, fixed his eye on the poor and the humble, and said that happiness was to be found in the lowly vale of poverty more than in the pomp and splendors of life. – Barnes

Utley’s Commentary: Believers’ God-given happiness is not based on physical circumstances but inner joy.

Luke 6:20-21 [read Luke 6:20-23; (20-21)]

Then Jesus looked steadily at his disciples and said, “How happy are you who own nothing, for the kingdom of God is yours! 21 How happy are you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied! How happy are you who weep now, for you are going to laugh! (Phillips)

KJV: And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

Are you Blessed?

Again I ask, are you happy (blessed)? If the answer is yes, please tell me what makes you happy and for how long does your happiness last? One thing I am sure of, friends and family or feeling security from a career or job offer temporary happiness (see Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, 6:1-12). However, in order to find lasting happiness, “then I will go to the altar of God, to God who is the source of my happiness.”

Luke 6:22-23 [read Luke 6:20-23; (22-23)]

People may hate you, because you believe in me, the Son of Man. They may say bad things against you and make you go away from them. They may say that you are very bad. When that happens, be happy.
23 God will prepare many good things for you in heaven. So be very happy when people do these bad things to you! Jump up and down because you are so happy. Their ancestors did the same bad things to God’s prophets long ago. (EASY)

KJV: Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

The word ‘happy’ in Luke 6:20-23 is also translated as ‘blessed’ they come from the Greek word μακάριος makarios mä-kä’-rē-os. To be happy is to have a feeling of well-being or contentment. Happiness according to the McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia “consists in the enjoyment of the Divine favor, a good conscience, and uniform conduct.”

Now That You Are God’s child…

Philippians 4:4 [read Philippians 4:2-7 (4)]

Now I’m talking to all of you Christians. You belong to our leader, Jesus, so always be happy. This is important, so I’m saying it again, “Be happy.” (PEV)

KJV: Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

David vowed to serve God with happiness; will you also?

Psalms 43:3-4 [read Psalms 43:3-4]

Send your light and your truth; may they lead me and bring me back to Zion, your sacred hill, and to your Temple, where you live. 4 Then I will go to your altar, O God; you are the source of my happiness. I will play my harp and sing praise to you, O God, my God. (GNT)

KJV: O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. 4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

Living in the Light

Ephesians 5:1-2 [read Ephesians 5:1-7 (1-2)]

You are God’s children whom he loves. So try to be like God. 2 Live a life of love. Love other people just as Christ loved us. Christ gave himself for us—he was a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God. (ICB)

KJV: Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

The final question is, are you happy now that you are God’s child? Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible lesson. Please take full advantage of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺

Related studies, lessons, and snacks for further spiritual growth:

Never Stop Praising The Lord, He Is Our Hope – an estimated 7-minute read.

Thank You, Lord, You’re Reliable And Good To Us! – an estimated 9-minute read.

Joyful; Endure Your Life Tests; Be Full Of Joy – an estimated 18-minute read.

Learn To Be Content And Happy With Your Life – an estimated 10-minute read.

Joy from the Spirit; Now Make Heaven Your Hope – an estimated 24-minute read.