Ota-onam Xudoga ishonmasdi. Mana shunday oilada tug‘ilib o‘sdim. Keyin o‘smirlik davrimda Masih haqida ilk bor eshitdim. Avvaliga Muqaddas Kitob hikoyalari men sevib o‘qigan yunon mifologiyasi va komikslarga o‘xshashday tuyuldi. Keyin Xushxabar hikoyalarini o‘qidim va Iso haqiqatan ham borligiga ishondim. Shundan so‘ng men bilgan superqahramonlar Uning oldida hech narsa emasligini tushundim. Iso meni qutqarganida, men shu paytgacha hech qachon bilmagan ajoyib bir baxtni his qildim va bu baxt meni hanuz tark etgani yo‘q. Qalbimdagi cheksiz quvonch qayta tug‘ilganim, gunohlarim kechirilgani va Xudoning Ruhi menda yashay boshlaganining natijasidir. «Itoatsizligi kechirilganlar baxtlidir, Egamiz kimning gunohidan o‘tgan bo‘lsa, o‘sha inson baxtlidir» (Zabur 31:1).
“Najot shodligi” (Zabur 50:14), «najotni e’lon qilgan» (Ishayo 52:7), «buyuk quvonch keltiradigan Xushxabar» (Luqo 2:10) yuragimdagi bo‘shliqning o‘rnini egalladi.
Masihga ergashish uchun nimalardan voz kechishni hech qachon yo‘qotish deb hisoblamaganman, buning asosiy sababi shuki, ular hech qachon menga baxt keltirmagan. Endi Iso men uchun hamma narsadan aziz edi. Men baxtli bo‘lishga harakat qilmasdim; men baxtli edim.
Qayg‘ularda ham hamisha quvonamiz
Masihga kelganlarning hammasi ham ichki quvonchni bu darajada chuqur his qilmaydi. Ko‘pchilik quvonadi, lekin aksariyat holda vaqt o‘tib, quvonch, baxtiyorlik hissi yo‘qoladi.
Masih to bu dunyoda gunoh va azoblarga to‘liq barham bermaguncha, quvonchimizga qayg‘ular soya solib turadi. Shunga qaramay, azob-uqubatlarda ham biz doimo quvonib yashashimiz mumkin. “Bizni xafa qilyaptilar, ammo doimo xursandmiz”, deyilishining boisi shu (2 Korinfliklar 6:10).
Bir necha yil avval yaqin do‘stim o‘z joniga qasd qildi. So‘nggi yillarda bu darajada o‘ksinib yig‘laganimni eslolmayman. Nensi bilan marhumning bevasini yupatib turgandik. Shu payt gitara va baraban tovushi eshitildi: kimdir «Twist and Shout» qo‘shig‘ini kuyladi. Uchalamiz ham ko‘zimizni katta ochib, ajablanib qoldik. Keyin hatto kulib ham yubordik.
O‘sha lahza biz uchun bir sovg‘a bo‘ldi — kulgi yuragimizga yengillik bag‘ishladi. Keyingi uch kun davomida bunday lahzalar yana takrorlandi. O‘sha kunlar biz marhumni qora tuproqqa topshirdik, dafn marosimini o‘tkazdik. O‘lim qanday og‘ir yo‘qotish bo‘lmasin, bu oilaning yuragidagi tinchlikni tortib ololmadi, chunki oila eng qayg‘uli damda ham goh katta, goh kichik quvonch beruvchi mehribon Xudoga sajda qilar edi. Rabbimiz Iso: “Ey yig‘layotganlar, baxtlisiz! Sizlar quvonib kulasizlar!”, degan (Luqo 6:21). Osmonda berilishi va’da qilingan quvonchni bu dunyodayoq his etamiz va bu bizni kutayotgan tuganmas quvonchning debochasidir.
Ijobiy fikrlash va haqiqiy quvonch
Masihda har kuni quvonib yashash — bu shunchaki illyuziya emas. Bu ishonchli dalillarga asoslangan haqiqatdir – Xudo Isoning xochdagi o‘limi va tirilishi orqali abadiy baxtimizni kafolatladi. U bizning ichimizda yashaydi va biz uchun shafoat qiladi. Hech narsa bizni Uning sevgisidan ajrata olmaydi. U bizga shunday deydi: «Xursand bo‘l, shodlan. Bajo qildi Egamiz buyuk ishlarini!» (Yo‘el 2:21).
«Ijobiyfikrlash»salbiynarsalar (masalan,gunoh,azob-uqubatvado‘zah)haqidao‘ylamaslikorqaliko‘tarinkikayfiyatdayurishninazardatutadi.Men bunga ishonmayman. Shuningdek, Xudoning sog‘liq, boylik va muvaffaqiyat orqali baxt va’da qilishini, istaganimizni so‘rab olishimiz mumkinligini o‘rgatadigan “farovonlik Xushxabarini” ham qabul qilmayman.
Xudo bizga sog‘liq, rizq-ro‘z va quvonch bag‘ishlaydigan ne’matlarini ulashganda, albatta minnatdor bo‘lishimiz kerak. Ammo bular berilganda xursand bo‘lish — boshqa, berilmagan vaqtda Xudo bizni tark etdi yoki bizga yordam bermadi, deb o‘ylash — boshqadir.
Biz zeb-ziynatlarga burkangan farovonlikni targ‘ib qiluvchi voizlarga emas, hayotimiz markazida Iso turadigan xizmatkorlarga taqlid qilishimiz kerak. Xushxabar voizi Emi Karmaykl (1867–1951) mana shunday xizmatkor bo‘lgan. U Hindistonda ibodatxonalarda fohishalikka majburlangan son-sanoqsiz bolalarni qullikdan qutqarib, ularga Xushxabarni yetkazgan. Hayoti davomida ko‘p azoblarni boshdan kechirgan Emi Karmaykl ellik besh yil davomida ta’tilga chiqmadi. Uning shunday so‘zlarni yozib qoldirgani ma’lum: «Hayotda ko‘ngilni cho‘ktiradigan narsa yo‘q. Hayot har doim quvonchga to‘la bo‘lishi kerak… Biz Xudo tomonidan qalbga o‘rnashadigan baxt va farovonlikni topib yashashga chaqirilganmiz; U beradigan quvonch bizga madad ulashadi» (Frenk Xouton, Amy Carmichael)
Xuddi soxta, yuzaki sevgi va tinchlik hissi bo‘lgani kabi, soxta va yuzaki baxt ham bo‘ladi. Dunyo bu so‘zlarning beo‘xshov nusxasini taklif qilsa-da, biz ularni ishlatishda davom etamiz. Soxtasi borligi tufayli faqat Masihda erishiladigan haqiqiy baxtni qadrsizlantirishga haqqimiz yo‘q!
Sharoitdan ustun bo‘lgan quvonch
Odam Atodan boshlab insoniyat baxtga intiq bo‘lib yashaydi. Odamlarning baxtga bo‘lgan chanqog‘i hanuz so‘ngani yo‘q. Bugungi kunda, ayniqsa, yoshlar orasida tushkunlik va xavotir tobora kuchayib bormoqda. Tadqiqotlarga ko‘ra, ijtimoiy tarmoqlardan foydalanish oqibatida ko‘pchilik o‘z xotirjamligini yo‘qotmoqda; suratlarda kimningdir mazmunli va maroqli vaqt o‘tkazayotganini ko‘rganlar ko‘pincha o‘zlarini baxtsiz his qiladi.
Tadqiqotlarga ko‘ra, «hayotiy sharoitlar bilan baxt o‘rtasida bog‘liqlik juda kam» (Happiness Is a Serious Problem, 115-bet). Shunga qaramay, odamlardan: «Nega baxtli emassiz?» deb so‘ralganda, aksariyati bunga yashash sharoitlarini sabab qilib ko‘rsatadi. Dunyo gunohga bulg‘angani bois, qiyinchiliklar har bir inson hayotiga soya solib turadi. Baxtli odamlar esa og‘ir sharoitlardan nariga — inoyati bilan kutilmagan lahzalarda ham zulmatni nur bilan yoritadigan, yuzimizga tabassum baxsh etadigan Zotga qarab yashaydi.
Ko‘plab masihiylar qayg‘u, alam, xavotir yoki yolg‘izlikdan qiynalib yashaydi va sharoitlari bois o‘zlarini bularning tutquniday his qiladi. Ular tirbandliklar, Wi-Fi bilan bog‘liq muammolar yoki yoqilg‘i narxlarining oshishi sababli parishonxotir bo‘lishadi, lekin Muqaddas Kitobning deyarli har bir sahifasida baxtli bo‘lish uchun sabablar bayon etilganini e’tibordan chetda qoldiradilar.
Osmonda baxt-saodatdan nafas olamiz
A. U. Tozer shunday yozgan: «Xudoning xalqi bu dunyoda eng baxtli insonlar bo‘lishi kerak! Odamlar doimo oldimizga kelib, quvonchimiz va shodligimizning manbai nimada ekanini so‘rashlari kerak». (Who Put Jesus on the Cross?).
Emi Karmaykl aytganidek, «qalbga o‘rnashadigan baxt» hayotiy qiyinchiliklarga bog‘liq emas. Qalbimizni to‘ldirgan bu bebaho va mustahkam saodat bugun biznikidir, chunki Masih hozir shu yerda; u ertaga ham bizniki bo‘ladi, chunki Masih biz bilan bo‘ladi; bu saodat toabad biznikidir, zero Masih bizni hech qachon tark etmaydi.
Xudo O‘z xalqining «ko‘zidagi har bir tomchi yoshni artib qo‘yadigan» (Vahiy 21:4) ulug‘ kun hali kelgani yo‘q, lekin keladi. Masihning qoni evaziga sotib olingan va’da bugungi baxtimiz uchun aql bovar qilmas darajada teran ma’no kasb etadi. Rabbimiz Iso: «Yig‘layotganlar baxtlidir, chunki ular tasalli topadilar», degan (Matto 5:4). Bugungi baxtimiz kelajakda Xudodan tasalli topishimiz haqidagi va’daga asoslanadi. Xudo farzandlarining abadiyatga bo‘lgan nigohi ularga hozirning o‘zidayoq his etish mumkin bo‘lgan haqiqiy va oliy saodatdan so‘z ochadi (Zabur 16:11; 21:7; 36:7–10; 37:16; 43:4; 73:28; Yuhanno 10:10 oyatga qarang).
Nima uchun abadiy hayotda beriladigan quvonchni bugungi kunda namoyon etmasligimiz kerak? Axir, yaqinlashib kelayotgan bitiruv kechasi, to‘y, kimningdir tashrifi, yaqinlar bilan uchrashuv yoki ta’tilni intiqlik bilan kutishning o‘ziyoq bizga quvonch va hayajon bag‘ishlamaydimi? Xudo o‘limni butunlay yo‘q qiladigan (Ishayo 25:8), la’natga barham beradigan (Vahiy 22:3), bizga abadiyat sari yo‘l ochib, Najotkorimiz va oilamiz bilan birlashtiradigan kunni intiqlik bilan kutish bizga bundan-da katta quvonch bag‘ishlashi kerak emasmi?
Uning inoyatiga tayanib, bugun Rabbimiz Iso Masihning quvonchiga sherik bo‘laylik. Uning va’dasi haqida mulohaza yuritaylik va bu va’dani boshqalar bilan baham ko‘raylik. Biz Uning yuzini yangi dunyoda ko‘ramiz. U yerda quvonch biz nafas oladigan havo kabi doimo bizga hamroh bo‘ladi.
Breathe in the Happiness of Heaven
I grew up in an unbelieving home, and first heard about Christ as a teenager. Initially, Bible stories seemed no more true than the Greek mythology and comics I loved. Then I read the Gospels, and believed that Jesus was real, and then superheroes became mere shadows of Him. When Jesus rescued me, I experienced a profound happiness I’d never known, and have never gotten over. My heartfelt gladness was the result of being born again, forgiven, and indwelt by God’s Spirit. “Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Psalm 32:1, NRSV).
This “joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12) contrasted starkly with the emptiness I’d felt before hearing the “good news of happiness” (Isaiah 52:7), also called the “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10).
I never considered what I gave up to follow Christ as sacrifices — mainly because they hadn’t brought me happiness. Jesus now meant everything to me. I wasn’t trying to be happy; I simply was happy.
Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing
Not everyone who comes to Christ experiences such a dramatic increase in happiness. Plenty do, but even many of those see their happiness gradually fade over time.
Until Christ cures this world, our happiness in Christ will be punctuated by sorrow. Yet somehow an abiding joy is possible even in suffering. Christians are “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10).
A few years ago a dear friend took his life and I wept more than I have in years. One moment, Nanci and I were huddled close and sobbing with his widow. Then inexplicably guitar and drums exploded while someone sang “Twist and Shout.” Shocked and wide-eyed, the three of us started laughing uncontrollably at the startling incongruity.
That moment was a gift, laughter lifting our heavy hearts. More such moments came over the next three days that included the dreaded graveside and hope-filled memorial service. Death’s grim face did not prevail, as the family worshiped a sovereign, loving, happy God who gave us joys both small and great in the midst of heartbreaking sorrow. Jesus said, “How happy are you who weep now, for you are going to laugh!” (Luke 6:21, Phillips). The laughter promised us in Heaven sometimes erupts in the present, a welcome foretaste of the unending happiness awaiting us.
Positive Thinking and Pure Joy
Experiencing daily happiness in Christ isn’t wishful thinking. It’s based on solid facts: God secured our eternal happiness through the cross and resurrection. He dwells within us, and He intercedes for us. Nothing separates us from His love. And He tells us “Be happy and full of joy, because the Lord has done a wonderful thing” (Joel 2:21, NCV).
“Positive thinking” says we can be happy by ignoring the negative (such as sin, suffering, and hell). I don’t believe that. Nor do I embrace the God-as-genie, name-it-and-claim-it prosperity gospel, which promises happiness through health, wealth, and success.
We should be grateful when God grants us health, provisions, and delightful surprises. But it’s one thing to be happy when such things occur, and another to believe God has failed us when they don’t.
Our models shouldn’t be jewelry-laden prosperity preachers, but Jesus-centered servants. Servants such as missionary Amy Carmichael (1867–1951), who brought the gospel to countless children she rescued from temple prostitution in India. She experienced much physical suffering and didn’t have a furlough in fifty-five years. Yet she wrote, “There is nothing dreary and doubtful about [life]. It is meant to be continually joyful. . . . We are called to a settled happiness in the Lord whose joy is our strength” (Frank Houghton, Amy Carmichael).
There’s selfish and superficial happiness, just like there’s selfish and superficial love and peace. But we still use those words, even though the world sells cheap imitations. We dare not belittle Christ-focused happiness just because there is self-centered happiness!
A Joy Bigger Than Circumstances
The quest to be happy is as ancient as Eden. People’s thirst for happiness remains. Our culture is characterized by increasing depression and anxiety, particularly among youth. Studies show more people feel bad than good after using social media; photos of others having good times leave observers feeling left out and inferior.
Research indicates there’s “little correlation between the circumstances of people’s lives and how happy they are” (Happiness Is a Serious Problem, 115). Yet when people are asked “Why aren’t you happy?” they focus on circumstances. In our fallen world, troubles are constant. Happy people look beyond their difficult circumstances to Someone whose grace brings light to the darkness and smiles to our faces in the most unlikely moments.
Many Christians live in sadness, anger, anxiety, or loneliness, thinking these feelings are inevitable given their circumstances. They lose joy over traffic jams, wifi issues, or rising gas prices. They miss the reasons for happiness expressed on nearly every page of Scripture.
We Will Breathe Happiness in Heaven
A.W. Tozer wrote, “The people of God ought to be the happiest people in all the wide world! People should be coming to us constantly and asking the source of our joy and delight” (Who Put Jesus on the Cross?).
Amy Carmichael’s “settled happiness” is possible despite life’s difficulties. Rich and durable, this happiness is ours today, because Christ is here; it’s ours tomorrow because Christ will be there; and it’s ours forever, because He’ll never leave us.
The day hasn’t yet come when God will “wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4). But it will. Christ’s blood-bought promise has breathtaking implications for our present happiness. Jesus made this startling statement: “Happy are those who mourn; [for] God will comfort them!” (Matthew 5:4, GNT). Present happiness is derived from the promise of future comfort. The eternal perspective of God’s children informs them of a true and ultimate happiness they can anticipate now (see Psalm 16:11; 21:6; 36:7–10; 37:16; 43:4; 73:28; John 10:10).
Why not frontload eternity’s joys into the present? Don’t we find current happiness in anticipating an upcoming graduation, wedding, visit, reunion, or vacation? So shouldn’t we find even greater pleasure in anticipating the day when God will swallow up death forever (Isaiah 25:8), permanently reverse the curse (Revelation 22:3), and unite us with our Savior and eternal family?
Calling upon His grace, let’s enter into our Master’s happiness today by contemplating and sharing His promise that we’ll behold His face in a new and captivating world, where joy will be the air we breathe.
