happiness

We read of rising animosity against our Father and our faith, then we look at our capacities and ask, “What are they for so many?” We look at the spiritual, financial, and material needs of our day, then turn to our resources and ask the same question.

In response, consider the counsel of Pope St. Leo the Great (died AD 461): “Do not be put off by a lack of resources. A generous spirit is itself of great wealth, and there can be no shortage of material for generosity where it is Christ who feeds and Christ who is fed. His hand is present in all this activity: his hand, which multiplies the bread by breaking it and increases it by giving it away.” Will you put your “lunch” in his hands today?

If we want happiness for ourselves and others in the coming year, we will need to travel the ancient pathway: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). How do we do this? The psalmist explains: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act” (v. 5).

God made us to know, love, and serve Him. That is our purpose, and human beings find their deepest satisfaction when living into their purpose. A cultural myth may tell women that they will only be happy if they put themselves first and eschew their potential to bear children, but that denies central aspects of their purpose as children of God and as women. None of us will find true satisfaction by purposefully rejecting our potential to live as God made us.

We’re focusing this week on the urgency and power of living in submission to God’s Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). When we surrender our minds, perspectives, and days to him, he draws us closer to Jesus. As John Calvin noted, the “Holy Spirit is the bond by which Christ effectually unites us to himself.”

Churchgoers are far more likely than the general population to say they are content and satisfied in their family and personal relationships, according to a new survey from Barna and Gloo that is part of their “State of Your Church” project.

Theologian Miroslav Volf, who has written books on subjects ranging from the Trinity to the challenges of reconciliation in divided societies, has turned to what might seem like a frivolous subject: joy.

But Volf, 61, the leader of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, says studying the theology of joy with students and scholars is “hard work."

He spoke with Religion News Service about the difference between joy and happiness, biblical lessons on joy and how the average person can find joy.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/beerphotograph

Weekly churchgoers are significantly more likely than non-churchgoers to say they are "very satisfied" with their personal life, according to a new Gallup survey that uncovered a direct connection between religion and self-reported mental wellbeing in the United States.

According to new data from the General Social Survey, Americans are more unhappy than we’ve been in half a century. In 1972, people who said they were “very happy” outnumbered those who said they were “not too happy” by about three-to-one. In 2021, that all changed: now the latter outnumber the former by 5 percent. One of the keys to finding fulfillment in a society that produces emptiness is to look to its one true source, Jesus.

According to a new survey, churchgoers who attend a house of worship at least weekly are more likely than non-churchgoers to rate their mental or emotional health as "excellent."