Understanding the True Source of Happiness

As God created humanity, he began with a man and a woman. God created them to take care of His own creation, populate the earth, and have a relationship with Him. The man and woman were the perfect role models of a healthy and loving relationship. They felt genuine happiness.

How do we know where happiness really comes from? How are we guaranteed that what we are feeling is genuine happiness? Marilyn Taplin’s Book about Christianity and LGBTQ takes us into a deep dive into the real meaning of happiness. She answers all our questions about the source of real happiness.

The Original Sin and its Impact on True Happiness

According to Marilyn Taplin, most of us long to experience and feel a lifetime of happiness from love and companionship designed by God. However, it often happens that when the promise of companionship fails to fulfill our desires, we feel sorrow. This sorrow and pain are the kinds that can bring severe and long-lasting damage. When this happens, all bad things arise in the marriage, including betrayal and deception. It can make both the people involved in the relationship do things they aren’t supposed to do—wrongful doings.

The first man and woman God made, Adam and Eve, their transgression has created the meaning of original sin, making it often referred to as the ancestral sin. One to please the other, both of them committed the act of oral sex. On Marilyn Taplin’s view, “Sin retains its nature. It remains constant. Sin is always foolishness. Original sin is always from Satan. “

But know that there was authentic and rightful happiness happening in the Garden of Eden before the sin. Before hate became the enemy of a relationship, there was love. It is a happiness that all can experience in the promised land. A chapter of Marilyn Taplin’s book called Happiness says that removing sin from all relationships, including marriage, can restore true happiness. Eventually, love will be genuine, and trust will return.

How God Fills His People with Happiness

Romans 15:13, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Three marks of a Christian include peace, hope, and joy. This verse proves how the three are linked up and connected to each other. And, by the power of his holy spirit, they all come from God.

To those who trust entirely in Him, God fills them with happiness. This happiness is not just a glee of momentary pleasure; it is the kind that dives into the depths of our being. It is something that nobody else can take away from us. Therefore, it is not static at all, and it generates inside of us. Accordingly, this kind of joy that only God can give will better our lives in the wilderness as it motivates us. All our actions, worship, and service are stimulated with this joy. If we get a hold of this joy that only God can provide, we can feel our complete sense of existence. On the other hand, a Christian without this possession should also seek a remedy to this situation.

Happiness completes a Christian. Without it, their lives will be filled with worries and fears as they fail to trust the Lord.

What is God’s Formula to Happiness?

This is how God’s formula of happiness is stated. “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding” (Proverbs 3:13) In Marilyn Taplin’s book, ­she translates this passage so readers could take an in-depth comprehension. She explains, “happiness comes when a person finds wisdom (hates evil) and gets understanding (departs from evil). And, wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord (hating evil). Understanding is departing from evil. When a person recognizes evil and departs from it, common sense is beginning to surface.”

Love God and love our brothers and sisters as ourselves. One of the greatest commandments. As for Taplin, obeying this commandment is for our own happiness. It also means that we should never commit the very sin the serpent introduced and do not ask anyone else to perform it.

Essentially, God is always passionate about His People’s happiness. Always remember the passage from Psalm 5:11, “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You.” Joy is the privilege for all those who trust in God. Always know that the Lord is holy, gracious, and merciful.