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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: I’ve never seen our country – and all countries – disgruntled, angry, chasing after happiness, and clamoring for peace while anger boils under the surface. Where have we gone wrong as a people? Have American citizens misunderstood the real meaning of “the pursuit of happiness”? – U.W.

A: There’s perhaps some lament that Thomas Jefferson wrote about “the pursuit of happiness.” Jefferson was correct that we should have a “right” to pursue happiness, but the problem today is that so many people are pursuing happiness without knowing exactly what they are looking for or where to find it. And few stop to think about what true happiness is: contentment, satisfaction, and joyfulness.

Happiness is a by-product, not an end in itself. Happiness cannot be pursued any more than one can pursue a cloudless day, grasp it, put it in a bottle, and then bring it out on a rainy day to enjoy again. True happiness is not superficial and fleeting, as a day at an amusement park might be.

True happiness begins when one is in a right relationship with God. In fact, God is the only source of true happiness, because He offers those intangibles that we mistakenly believe can be found on Earth: contentment, security, peace, and hope for the future. None of these can be found in a career, a human relationship, money, power, or position. They are God’s alone to give. That is why the Lord Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, told where ultimate happiness lies when He said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6, NKJV).

Happiness means to be content, satisfied, and joyful. “He who heeds the word wisely will find good … happy is he” (Proverbs 16:20, NKJV).

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

©2024 Billy Graham Literary Trust. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

(c)2024 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.