The morning joys of life that range from the singing of birds to the delight of a hot cup of coffee all point to human satisfaction with happiness. It is so refreshing to be around a truly happy person. It’s that person whistling or singing as they go about their duties because the inner contentment just can’t be contained. In the hustle and bustle of modern life, happiness often seems like an elusive butterfly, fluttering just out of reach. Yet, there exists a state of being where happiness isn’t dependent on external circumstances—a state where joy bubbles up from within, independent of what’s happening around us.
IT’S THE ART OF BEING HAPPY FOR NO REASON
Imagine waking up in the morning with a sense of contentment that fills your entire being, irrespective of the challenges that may lie ahead. This is the essence of being happy for no reason. It’s about cultivating an inner landscape where joy becomes your default setting, rather than a fleeting emotion triggered by external events.
Let’s explore some Biblical examples and concepts to help us live in this blessed condition of happiness without a reason.
Luke 24:50-53
And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.
This is how Jesus left this earth after He rose from the dead. The disciples that were with Him and heard His last instructions saw Him leave as He ascended into heaven.
Acts 1:9-12
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.
The people have just seen their hero disappear into a cloud but yet they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. They are kicking up their heels as they rejoice. It seems that they are happy for no reason.
We use a form of the word happy to describe major events and holidays. We say happy Thanksgiving, merry Christmas, and happy New Year.
We also speak about happiness in terms of things we experience or receive. Someone who has just had a great time will exclaim, “That makes me so happy.” Others may wistfully name something that makes them say, “If I just had or when I get there, I would be happy.”
Look at the directness of one of the shortest verses in the Bible.
1 Thessalonians 5:16
Rejoice always,
And the same writer tells another group of people almost the same thing by repeating the directive.
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
A little dive into the definition of the Bible word translated in English as rejoice, reveals that it can mean to be calmly happy. I like that, don’t you?
Well, let’s get back to those disciples after the ascension of Jesus Christ. What happened to these people? Shouldn’t they be sad at the departure of the One they worship and believe? Maybe Jesus had given them some teachings that they now understood and were walking in. Look at what He had said to His followers.
Luke 17:21
nor will they say, “See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
A kingdom can be described as a domain that is reigned by a king. Jesus was giving them a revolutionary truth about the Kingdom of God. He messed up the thinking of their time about a Messiah. They wanted Him to fix everything about the nations and all the trouble in the world and most people missed His real mission. His real purpose was to cure them and establish His domain within each person so that no matter what was going on nationally or even in personal circumstances, they could be happy for no reason.
The reign of the King is not in this or that, but His throne is established in us.
The Apostle Paul emphasized the same concept about the Kingdom of God as we see summarized in this verse in the book of Romans.
Romans 14:17
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Oh, that is so powerful and liberating. The reign of God is in the unseen domain of my heart where the Holy Spirit is enforcing the qualities of that Kingdom which are righteousness, peace, and joy. All of those are unconditional to external circumstances and conditions.
Let me encourage you to allow God to establish His Kingdom within. I have found some practical and certainly Biblical practices to let the King reign in this domain of my life and effectuate the true conditions of righteousness, peace, and joy. I raise my hands toward heaven as I go through these three as part of my daily routine. The posture of raised hands expresses my heart and words of worship, surrender, and receiving.
WORSHIP
Worship is what we give to God and no one or nothing else. It’s the answer to that which has real value in my life and has to do with what comes first in my life. I don’t raise my hands to worship wholeheartedly to anyone else. God comes first in worship with expressions of that value in all we do and say.
Let this be an invitation to lift you hands and worship a transcendent God.
SURRENDER
God’s Kingdom is established in what I surrender to Him. The attitude of yielding to the reign of God in this domain of our life is such a powerful catalyst of true happiness that transcends the natural world. What a sense of peace is accessed when we surrender to the greater mind of God that lets us be confident that all things work for our good.
Here is the opportunity to let go of every burden and anxiety by lifting your hands in surrender to an all- knowing God who loves you.
RECEIVE
The wonder of God’s grace is that we can receive more than we could ever earn. Jesus talked about it when He offered sonship to as many as received Him. He also told His disciples to receive the Holy Spirit. Then the wonderful truth in Paul’s writings is that people will reign in life if they can receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness.
Humbly lifting our hands as we receive from God exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think.
In a world that often equates happiness with external achievements and possessions, the art of being happy for no reason offers a refreshing paradigm shift. It invites us to look inward and discover a source of joy that transcends the transient nature of worldly pursuits.
By allowing God to establish His Kingdom in our hearts as we worship, surrender, and receive, we can unlock the secret to lasting happiness—the kind that springs forth from the depths of our being, independent of external circumstances.
So, let us embark on this sacred journey together, knowing that true happiness isn’t something to be chased but a treasure to be established within ourselves. After all, the happiest moments are often the ones where we have no reason to be happy at all.
