Resources by Topic: Happiness

Randy Alcorn spoke at Hope Chapel in Kihei, Hawaii on the subject of happiness. He spoke on the Biblical definition of happiness, happiness in Scripture, how depression and happiness relate, God's happiness and that through Christ we can be happy. In this clip, Randy talks about how God has hardwired us for happiness. 

We can’t spend time with many of the world’s famous people, but I have a hunch we’d often be disappointed if we could. We can, however, spend time with God daily—hour by hour.

As much as I believe in the holiness of God, I also believe in emphasizing God’s happiness as a legitimate and effective way to share the gospel with unbelievers or to help Christians regain a foothold in their faith.

Randy Alcorn spoke at his home church, Good Shepherd Community Church, on the topic of happiness. In this clip, Randy shares several scriptures and quotes about happiness. Watch the full video here. For more information, check out Randy's Happiness book. 

Randy Alcorn spoke at his home church, Good Shepherd Community Church, on the topic of happiness. He shared scripture, quotes and personal experiences about happiness. For more information, check out Randy's Happiness book. 

Randy Alcorn spoke at his home church, Good Shepherd Community Church, on the topic of happiness. In this clip, he talks about experiencing happiness in creation and how that has been especially helpful for him. Watch the full clip here. For more information, check out Randy's Happiness book. 

Randy Alcorn spoke at his home church, Good Shepherd Community Church, on the topic of happiness. In this clip, Randy talks about our expectations for health and wealth and how that relates to happiness. For more information, check out Randy's Happiness book. 

Randy Alcorn spoke at his home church, Good Shepherd Community Church, on the topic of happiness. In this clip, Randy talks about some of the realities of having depression. For more information, check out Randy's Happiness book. 

Randy Alcorn spoke at his home church, Good Shepherd Community Church, on the topic of happiness. In this clip, Randy talks about depression and happiness. For more information, check out Randy's Happiness book. 

Randy Alcorn spoke at his home church, Good Shepherd Community Church, on the topic of happiness. In this clip, Randy shares about his personal journey to faith and how happiness was a part of it. For more information, check out Randy's Happiness book. 

Every sin we commit, every shortcoming we display is an attempt to be happy through a God-substitute. Lewis, who spent much of his life trying to find happiness outside God, finally realized he’d been deceiving himself. He wasn’t alone.

Our thankfulness glorifies God and makes Him happy: “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me” (Psalm 50:23). But God isn’t the only one affected when we give thanks.

The problem with idols is not that they’re intrinsically wrong. God created wood, stone, and gold, which can be fashioned into heathen idols. Likewise, He created family, friendships, work, music, art, sex, food, drink, and all that we rightly value. But all of these can still become idols—God-substitutes.

Something would be terribly wrong if we weren’t grieving for this world and those who suffer. But is it okay to be happy when we live in a world of hurt? And beyond that, is it actually God’s calling? Those questions motivated me to go deeper into Scripture and to see what people through the ages have said about happiness, especially the Puritans.