Because I’m Happy
Pharrell Williams wrote, sang and made popular his song: “Happy”. There’s something about that song that turns up the joy and energy that Pharrell intended. In the “Happy” lyrics, Pharrell sings about staying positive in the face of bad news and adversity and it’s evident at one point in the song, when he croons, “Here come bad news, talking this and that… Well, I should probably warn ya, I’ll be just fine.” Later in the chorus, he instructs the listener to express that joy and “clap along” in various ways to make it known. It’s an infectious, catchy song that I can’t help but sing along.
Pharrell said: “It was awesome to be able to make a song that when you’re feeling down you can just play it and feel a whole lot better.”
As fun and inspiring Pharrell’s “Happy” song is, we don’t have to listen to it to get on our “happy”. The truth is I am genuinely happy. I live by faith in every aspect of my life. Happiness isn’t a crutch – it is a part of my being. Seriously, when I have a choice every day to be sour about this or that, I choose the sweet mint of joy and happiness. I know that God is in control of my day AND me if I relinquish my control and give it all to God Who is my source of hope, encouragement, and positivity. He never fails – even when life doesn’t go the way I want it to or planned it to.
I’d like to say it’s my nature from birth, but, no, I’ve had to work at it. I know grumpydom. I know how I can wallow in self-pity. But why go there when I have an option to go to my source of strength. Does it mean that Christians must “put on a happy face” even when their lives crumble around them? No. But, when we purpose to replace sadness and weariness and even hopelessness with hope and joy, it transcends any pain and suffering.
Real, God-inspired happiness is hanging on to the truth of His sovereign goodness regardless of what’s going on within or around us. The Apostle Paul reminded the Christians in Philippi to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). And he even repeated his command, showing its importance. He called them to an attitude of joy which doesn’t depend on circumstances, but on their Lord. Paul followed that command with another: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
All the tools we need to having real happiness and joy are found in deep-diving into God’s grace and mercy – that mercy that is new every morning for us – just for the taking. I’m not talking about a superficial, canned kind-of-happiness. I’m talking about a happiness that whether it’s raining, storming, or sun-shining, or bad news disrupts our day, we can still be filled with a happiness that comes from deep within knowing WHO lives big in us and WHO gives us His abundant life. “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 144:15)
I want to be like that wind-up music box ballerina that no matter how tightly she is wound up, she lets her dancing rip! I, too, want to be wind up so much that I’ll still be dancing and singing God’s praises all the day long. Because my song is “Happy”! Are you happy today? If not take a dive into God’s grace and mercy that is guaranteed to resolve “grumpydom” and you’ll find that happiness can free you to dance, sing, rejoice, and be glad. That truth can set us free!