16 Question 2

I’m so sorry that situations in your life have caused you to be unhappy, even though you are a Christian.  I really cannot diagnose why you are so unhappy, so I will offer a few thoughts that you might find helpful, OK?

One sure way of happiness is found in Psalms 1:1-3.  It reads, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”  The word ‘blessed’ is more accurately translated ‘happy’.  When we, as believers, resist the influence of those who are not saved and find our delight in the things of the Lord, we will find happiness that the world knows nothing about.

Romans 14:22 says, “Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.”  Are there things in your lifestyle that you know are wrong, but you are doing them anyway?  When a believer goes against what his conscience knows is wrong, there can be much sadness.  Once you have been set free from sin, it is disheartening to try to go back to that sin.  For our own good, the Lord will not allow us to be happy when we are living in sin.  In John 8:1-11 is the account of a woman that was caught in adultery.  Rather than being condemned by the Lord, this woman found forgiveness.  The Lord’s words to this repentant woman in verse 11 were, “…go, and sin no more.”  If there are things in your life that should not be there, I encourage you to stop this behavior and confess your sins to the Lord.  1 John 1:9 teaches us that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”  Are you walking in the light, or the truth, of what you have learned?  Are you living a life in close fellowship to the Lord and His people?  When we are saved, we become part of Christ and His church.  Are you enjoying the fellowship of the Lord?  Psalms 16:11 tell us, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”  Being in the presence of the Lord will not only bring joy, it will bring fullness of joy.  To walk with the Lord in the truth of His Word will give you great pleasure.  Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  Are you in happy fellowship with a group of fellow believers where you can be taught, where you can be encouraged, and where you can have liberty to serve the Lord?

Perhaps your unhappiness is due more to a medical problem than a spiritual problem.  If you are seeking to walk with the Lord and are not living in sin, you may have a medical condition that is causing this.  I encourage you to get a thorough check up from your doctor to make sure you are not suffering from a treatable, medical condition.

I’d love to hear from you again.  Please let me know how you are doing.  (16.2)