Why not? He is in the Kingdom Business
by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
Over the last few days, I’ve received several messages and comments from people who want to argue with me against the existence of God, Yahweh—not from a purely theological standpoint, but from a deeply personal one. They say things like, “Why would I want to follow a God who doesn’t allow me to be happy?” or “Why does Christianity seem so restrictive? If God really loved us, wouldn’t He want us to just be happy?”
I understand where they are coming from because I live in the world too, and I have spent years waiting to final be HAPPY. Yet, in a world that preaches self-fulfillment, personal freedom, and the relentless pursuit of happiness, it’s easy to believe that happiness is the ultimate goal of life. However, the more I have walked with the Lord, the more I have realized this profound truth: Yahweh is not in the happiness business—He is in the Kingdom business!!
Is God Against Happiness?
Absolutely not. Most importantly, He is against counterfeit happiness–the fleeting kind that the world offers– the type that vanishes with circumstances and leaves people empty when it fades. God is in the business of something much greater: eternal joy, true fulfillment, and a life lived with divine purpose.
The problem is that happiness and holiness are not always the same thing. The world says, “Do what makes you happy.” On the other hand, God says, “Do what makes you holy.” The world says, “Live for yourself.” However, God says, “Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)
The Problem with the Pursuit of Happiness
Happiness, as the world defines it, is based on circumstances—if things are going well, people are happy; if things fall apart, a person’s happiness disappears. What happens when life doesn’t go as planned? What happens when suffering comes? If happiness is the foundation of life, then the foundation will crack under pressure. Circumstances are always in FLUX!
God never promised a problem-free life. In fact, Jesus Himself said:
“In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Jesus did not come to make us happy—He came to make us holy. He came to save, redeem, and restore us for His Kingdom, not our temporary pleasures.
The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength
There in this very argument about happiness exists a the beautiful paradox. This paradox excites me because I have spent years teaching what paradox means to my American Literature students. A paradox is a statement, concept, or situation that appears to be self-contradictory or logically impossible, yet, upon deeper examination, it reveals a deeper truth or reality.
Working Definition: A paradox is a seemingly contradictory or absurd statement that, when investigated, expresses a profound or unexpected truth.
Paradoxical Examples
“Less is more.” – A contradiction that highlights how simplicity can be more effective than complexity.
“You must lose your life to find it.” (Matthew 16:25) – A biblical paradox emphasizing surrender to God as the path to true life.
God’s Paradoxical Truth
We experience a beautiful paradox as followers of Jesus: when we surrender our pursuit of happiness to God’s higher pursuit of holiness, we actually gain something much greater—His joy.
“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)
Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness is circumstantial; joy is supernatural. It is a fruit of the Spirit that does not fade with trials. Even in suffering, even in hardship, the joy of the Lord sustains His people. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Why Doesn’t God Prioritize Human Happiness?
- Happiness is Temporary—God’s Will is Eternal.
- What makes someone happy today may change tomorrow. God’s plan isn’t about catering to shifting emotions, but His plans is about fulfilling His sovereign purpose.
- God’s Focus is Transformation, Not Comfort.
- Many people resist faith because they don’t want to be challenged. However, true growth—spiritually, emotionally, and mentally—comes through refinement, not indulgence.
- What We Think Will Make Us Happy Often Leads to Bondage.
- “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
- Many people seek happiness in money, relationships, pleasure, and self-indulgence, yet these “things” and so called “pleasures” often lead to deeper anxiety, emptiness, and sin.
Living a Victorious Life in Christ
God’s goal isn’t to deprive us of happiness—it’s to fill us with something better: His presence, purpose, and peace. When we abide in Him, the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) begin to flourish in our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When will I stop talking about abiding in the vine and allowing the vinedresser to care for us? NEVER. God’s will and God’s knowledge is a well that never will run dry; therefore, our growth will never decrease as long as we continue to abide in Him.
Staying rooted in the fruits of the Spirit is not living haphazardly due to temporary emotions; the fruits of the Spirit are evidence of a victorious life in Christ. The joy of the Lord overflows into a life of fulfillment and purpose.
A Final Thought
So, to those who argue with me that following God means forfeiting happiness, I would say this:
God is not keeping something from you—He is inviting you DEEPLY DIVE into something greater. He is not here to please your desires, but to redeem your soul. He is not focused on your momentary comfort but on your eternal destiny.
The Kingdom of God is not a place of fleeting pleasures but of righteousness, peace, and JOY in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17) And that, my friends, is far greater than worldly happiness.
Let’s stop chasing happiness and start pursuing the King.
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for showing me that true joy is found in You and not in the temporary pleasures of this world. Help me to surrender my desires and to seek Your Kingdom above all else. Give me the strength to trust that Your ways are higher and that Your plans for me are far greater than what I could ever imagine. Let Your joy be my strength and my anchor. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Challenge for the Week
This week, take a moment to examine where you are seeking happiness. Is it in things that are temporary or in the eternal joy of the Lord? Spend time in prayer, asking God to reveal any areas where you may be prioritizing worldly happiness over His Kingdom purpose.
Hashtags
#KingdomMindset #NotMyWillButYours #JoyInTheLord #SpiritualGrowth #FaithOverFeelings #SurrenderToGod #TrustHisPlan #SeekHisKingdom #TrueFulfillment #HolySpiritLed #GodsWill #VictoriousLiving #PurposeOverPleasure
Scripture References
- Luke 9:23 – “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
- John 16:33 – “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
- Nehemiah 8:10 – “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
- Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
- Colossians 3:2 – “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
- Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
- Proverbs 14:12 – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”
- Romans 14:17 – “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
The Aging English Major 