Will God be okay if we aren't happy,joyful positive Christians?

[Mike Mclees]

9 hours ago, maryjayne said:

sometimes our unhappiness is because we want or desire something that is not what God wants. Or our conscience is troubled.  Or we have misunderstood what it is God wants from us, or who He is. 

What do you mean by unhappy? what is it you expect? often our expectations are from a human standpoint, not from Gods standpoint.

You must be talking about adult children.  When I was a child I acted as a child, but when I became a man I put childish things away

[Sower]

16 hours ago, maryjayne said:

23 hours ago, Mike Mclees said:

You must be talking about adult children.  When I was a child I acted as a child, but when I became a man I put childish things away

what do you mean?

I cannot answer for Mike, but I have used the term 'adult children', and it's definition. Those who have reached the age of adulthood, yet acted as children.  In my past, I have had adult children work with me and for me in my trade. They simply refused to grow up. Would not be responsible, would/could not learn or improve their craftsmanship, and lived only for their weekly paycheck. Some in their forties living at home with their parents, with no transportation.  On the job,there was constant childish auguring and bickering, always placing blame on others, unable to hold responsibilities. Removing myself from that environment was the best move I made for my health, physical and mental, and realizing I couldn't 'fix' every problem.
  "but when I became a man I put childish things away". Some do, some don't.      (Why we have moderators).............

 

Edited October 28, 2018 by Gary Lee

[Mike Mclees]

1 hour ago, Gary Lee said:

I cannot answer for Mike, but I have used the term 'adult children', and it's definition. Those who have reached the age of adulthood, yet acted as children.  In my past, I have had adult children work with me and for me in my trade. They simply refused to grow up. Would not be responsible, would/could not learn or improve their craftsmanship, and lived only for their weekly paycheck. Some in their forties living at home with their parents, with no transportation.  On the job,there was constant childish auguring and bickering, always placing blame on others, unable to hold responsibilities. Removing myself from that environment was the best move I made for my health, physical and mental, and realizing I couldn't 'fix' every problem.
  "but when I became a man I put childish things away". Some do, some don't.      (Why we have moderators).............
 

Sad to say  it took a lot longer for me to grow up then it should have. What is important now is that I finally did grow up.   Thank you Jesus

1 Corinthians 13:11    When I was a child I spoke as a child I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man I put away childish things

[Blood Bought 1953]

 

The worst Christians I ever meet seem to have quite a bit of joy and peace of mind in their lives.I have yet to meet a Relgious person who had either

[Figure of eighty]

1 hour ago, Blood Bought 1953 said:

 

The worst Christians I ever meet seem to have quite a bit of joy and peace of mind in their lives.I have yet to meet a Relgious person who had either

What do you mean?

[discipler777]

On 10/24/2018 at 11:30 PM, Figure of eighty said:

Will God be okay if we aren't happy,joyful positive Christians?

I'm just not happy as a Christian.  

.

Please look at the Story of Job and his wife and try to learn from it.

Job and his wife were suffering many calamities and unhappy because Job had ignorantly sinned against God.(Job 1:5 & 3:25, Exodus 20:5) Throughout his suffering and unhappiness, he was unaware of his sin/evil-deed, yet Job kept the faith or did not lose faith in God = he was probably saved from hell in the end. Eventually Job still repented, even though he did not know why he had to suffer. God forgave and healed him, and doubly blessed him of what he had lost.

In comparison, his wife suffered unhappily, probably lost faith and salvation by cursing God and died.(Job 2:9)

.

Some Gentile Christians, when they were still lawless Gentiles, might have committed various sins/evil-deeds and suffering the consequences, eg a Gentile woman's unhappy marriage to a non-Christian husband. Or their parents might have committed the sins, eg children born of alcoholics/drug-addicts also suffer the effects. These sufferings and unhappiness may be carried over into their post-conversion life as Christians.

That was why at Acts 15:24-29 & 21:20-25, God permitted Gentile Christians to only keep laws that are not a burden to them, unlike the Jewish Christians who were required by God to continue to keep Moses Law because it was not a burden to them. IOW, a Gentile Christian can remain an alcoholic or drug-addict or chain-smoker, even though this may shorten his/her life on earth - similar to a diabetic who is "addicted" to insulin. He/she should be comforted by the fact that he/she will be resurrected or raptured and spending an eternity with Lord/God Jesus Christ on a new earth and new heaven.(Revelation 21:1 & 20:1-6)

.

Of course, ideally, Christians should be having the love, peace and joy/happiness of the Spirit, eg the rich young ruler of Matthew 19:16-21(if only he had followed Jesus to become perfect).

[OldCoot]

I suggest anyone who is similar to the OP, read the stories of those who have been persecuted for their faith.  Locked up for years, sometimes in solitary confinement for months and months.  Sent to forced labor camps.  Tortured.  How do they still have joy in the Lord and worship Him even on their worse days.  When we take our focus off of ourselves and focus on the Lord and others, things seem to come more into focus.

Edited October 28, 2018 by OldCoot

[Peavey]

On 10/24/2018 at 9:30 AM, Figure of eighty said:

There's a lot of things I've come to learn. God won't give you everything you desire, your hearts desire. He can but not always...for some people not ever.  

Idk I just...there's alot of things about God I struggle with I won't list it here..

 

But... 

 

I'm definitely not a happy go lucky Christian. I feel as long as I have hope for nothing but salvation. I can make it to heaven. 

I think that's probably the only time I'll truly be happy. 

I'm just not happy as a Christian. 

 

 

Maybe the problem is in the definition of "happiness" and "joy."

We often search for happiness in the world. That is, in our circumstances. In how much money we have, in how people view us, in how healthy we are, the way we look, even in relationships of all kinds, but those things are always going to fail us.

There is deep joy in knowing the Lord and doing His will. Sometimes we have to make an effort; other times it comes "naturally" as we seek Him. Prayer and reading the Bible will show you the way. It's not easy to put away all of our own notions and let God lead, but that's where we find real joy.

It's the kind of joy that doesn't depend on how bad or how good our lives are. It's based in the peace that Jesus gives: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

I see no instances of real "happy go lucky" Christians. Christians who have a close relationship with Christ are serious about it. A joke now and then and laughter for sure (God has a sense of humor) but those are not goals of Christianity. Following Jesus is, no matter how rough the road.

Edited October 28, 2018 by Peavey

[Blood Bought 1953]

52 minutes ago, Peavey said:

Maybe the problem is in the definition of "happiness" and "joy."

We often search for happiness in the world. That is, in our circumstances. In how much money we have, in how people view us, in how healthy we are, the way we look, even in relationships of all kinds, but those things are always going to fail us.

There is deep joy in knowing the Lord and doing His will. Sometimes we have to make an effort; other times it comes "naturally" as we seek Him. Prayer and reading the Bible will show you the way. It's not easy to put away all of our own notions and let God lead, but that's where we find real joy.

It's the kind of joy that doesn't depend on how bad or how good our lives are. It's based in the peace that Jesus gives: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

I see no instances of real "happy go lucky" Christians. Christians who have a close relationship with Christ are serious about it. A joke now and then and laughter for sure (God has a sense of humor) but those are not goals of Christianity. Following Jesus is, no matter how rough the road.

 

 

I dont laugh all of the time, but I laugh a lot more than I used to.That laugh is a lot hardier than the one I used to have,also.Most Christians I know are smiling nearly all of the time.Its like I have a great secret I want to share but few believe it.I don’t lose any sleep over that .It took me many years to get here , but I am happy, I love to make others laugh and feel good about themselves.One thing I enjoy doing is filling my pockets with Juicy Fruit and riding the Harley around town and passing out the gum to little kids—if they are brave enough, I let them honk the horn.Any girl within hearing distance will be made aware that I offer  free rides to pretty girls( they know I am kidding) I go out of my way to make this “ offer” to those women who are-not often told that they are “pretty”.Before God showed me how to rest in his finished work and gave me the assurance of my Salvation, I was not this way.Life was something endured—- not savored and enjoyed.To be able to be happy in this Satan owned, fallen world is made all that much better when one realizes the best is yet to come.Forever.I hope this does not come off as too “ PollyAnnish”—— I can still be a jerk at times—- people in here can vouch for that.I just want Newbies to the faith to see what true Christianity  can do for them.Religionists walk around with scowls on their faces and spend most of their time judging others and pointing fingers.They are ignorant about how God works .God puts something great in your heart and it only lives by giving itself away.God bless

 

[Blood Bought 1953]

13 hours ago, Figure of eighty said:

What do you mean?

 

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit thAt all Christians are entitled to.Religionists are not entitled to it