Today I’m sharing about finding true happiness. And if you’re anything like me, this is something you’ve struggled with. What is true happiness? Where does it come from? Let’s look at what God says about finding true happiness, friend.

What True Happiness Is and Is Not

Looking back at my growing-up years, I can’t say we were a happy family. My mom, stepdad, brother, and I co-existed. We rarely had family dinners around a table. Instead, dinner was served on the kitchen counter, and we sat in front of the television. Most of my family didn’t bother showing up to my science fair or to see me cheer. It just wasn’t important. But, of course, that meant that I wasn’t important.

At the time, I believed that to be “happy,” I needed the attention and approval of others.

Finding True Happiness

I do remember a few fun family vacations. Once my grandparents joined us. We went to the Ice Follies and the zoo, but those moments were like sparkling moments set among the mundane. It wasn’t until I was an adult with my children that I realized how different things could be. We enjoy family meals almost every night and spend time at the lake or going on evening walks. We serve in church together, which is a lot of fun.

Yet no family can be happy all of the time.

Our family has faced the deaths of loved ones, and we’ve had times of hardship and struggle. Yet, even then, we still have each other. My husband, kids, and I have an underlying contentment and connection—happiness even—during hard times. Realizing this, I began to understand that true happiness isn’t about what we have or do. True happiness is about where we are walking. Who we are walking with.

Do you want to know this type of happiness—a deeply settled feeling that tells you that all is well even during the chaos or pain of life?

Finding True Happiness

It wasn’t until I understood the truth about “happy” that I saw why things were different in my home than in the one I grew up with. True happiness stems from the internal, not the external, and it’s found throughout the Bible. The word happy is translated as blessed, and the root is “to be straight.”

So to be truly happy is to get our hearts “straight” or “right” in the Lord.

“Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in his commandments,” we read in Psalm 112:1 (NRSV). The whole chapter is so beautiful I’m going to share it here:

Happy are those who fear the Lord,

who greatly delight in his commandments.

Their descendants will be mighty in the land;

the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in their houses,

and their righteousness endures forever.

They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright;

they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.

It is well with those who deal generously and lend,

who conduct their affairs with justice.

For the righteous will never be moved;

they will be remembered forever.

They are not afraid of evil tidings;

their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord.

Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid;

in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.

They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor;

their righteousness endures forever;

their horn is exalted in honor.

The wicked see it and are angry;

they gnash their teeth and melt away;

the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.

Finding True Happiness

What is true happiness? To be truly happy is to get our hearts “straight” or “right” in the Lord, and then all good things stem from that.

If your heart longs to be happy, it’s time to turn to Jesus. With Him is true happiness is found.

Right now my new book Heart Happy is now available for pre-order! If you’d like immediate access you can also join my Heart Happy Insider Launch. Heart Happy shares how I went from hurting and struggling through chaos and disappointment, to living in the abundance of joy that Christ died to give me. I want the same for you, friend. That’s why I share from my heart about how He walked alongside me through my pain and helped me see that He was ready and willing and ABLE to handle all my fears and doubts. That He could take all the crazy and heal my heart from the inside out, so I could smile again. And He wants to do the same for you.

Join me in finding your Heart Happy life today!

Looking for more on how to find true happiness?

In this talk with my friend Rebekah Hargraves we chat about her book Lies Moms Believe … and wow, there are a lot of them! And you know what? Those lies can keep us from finding true happiness in Christ! I know you’re going to love my conversation with Rebekah. We share the lies that we often have to dig out of our hearts.

Listen here https://triciagoyer.com/lies-moms-believe-and-how-to-refute-them/