Happiness Engineers

The other day I got a notification from my blog platform that I was eligible for a custom domain name free for one year. I would shamelessly plug it, but you’re already here. 😉

Anyway, after taking advantage of the offer, I got an email telling me I could customize more things, and had more options now that I had my own domain name, etc.

Ooooh, how exciting! [insert eye roll]

They shared a whole spiel about what was now available, blah blah blah. It did not convince me to spend more time looking into it, but something at the bottom of their email caught my attention.

“Our Happiness Engineers are here to answers your questions and help you set up your site.”

‘Happiness Engineers’? Is that what they call their customer service agents?

And it made me stop and think. It actually stopped me in my tracks, if I’m being honest.

How often do I approach God as though He is just the main ‘Happiness Engineer’ in my life? How often do I “give Him my order” of what I’d like to see happen in a situation or circumstance, instead of praying for His will?

How often have I doubted His goodness because things didn’t turn out the way I wanted? How easily is my heart pulled in other directions that make me “happier” than the things God is calling me to?

It also reminded me of a song I learned when I was just a little curly-headed troublemaker that has stuck with me…

Happiness is to know the Savior,
Living a life within His favor,
Having a change in my behavior,
Happiness is the Lord.

Happiness is a new creation,
Jesus and me in close relation,
Having a part in His salvation-
Happiness is the Lord.

Real joy is found
No matter if teardrops start.
I’ve found the secret:
It’s Jesus in my heart!

Happiness is to be forgiven,
Livin’ a life that’s worth the livin’,
Taking a trip that leads to Heaven,
Happiness is the Lord.

You see, Jesus isn’t a ‘Happiness Engineer’. He’s just happiness itself.

He doesn’t fawn all over me and make sure everything that happens is okay with me before He allows it. He doesn’t change His plans to accommodate my dislikes or desires. He doesn’t grovel and entice and offer deals to make Himself more attractive.

He just humbly offers Himself. And when I get to know Him, I find…

He’s the author of joy, peace, contentment, love, salvation…He is my portion, the lifter of my head, the bread of life, the mighty God…He convicts my heart of sin then graciously forgives, He leads me in the paths of righteousness, He restores my soul…He has given me His guidelines to live by, and corrects me when I am wrong…

Happiness IS the Lord!

Lord, forgive me when I forget that happiness is in You alone! You give me everything I need. Thank you for your holiness and Your desire for me to also be holy. Thank you that in you I find the satisfaction my soul longs for. Help me not to forget Your goodness in my life!

Psalm 107:8, 9
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
(9) For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Psalm 23
(1) A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
(2) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
(3) He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
(4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
(5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
(6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 16:8-11
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.
(10) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
(11) Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.