Where Is True Happiness?

 Where Is True Happiness?

There was a woman, chatting with an old friend whom she had not seen in a long time. The friend saw that the woman’s face appeared very pale and asked her, “What happened?”

The woman answered, “Some time ago, because I turned 50 and am halfway through my life, many friends urged me to make the most of the remaining time and enjoy life–eat whatever I want and do whatever I please. I felt that the words made a lot of sense, so I traveled abroad on a tour with other women to indulge myself in eating and shopping. I was happy while on tour, but when I got home, I felt empty, even sinful. Later on, I saw the news about students meeting tragic accidents while working in part-time jobs. That made me feel guilty, and I despised myself.

“Before, I often felt an inner pain and lack, so I often engaged myself in doing pleasant things. For example, I would have lunch dates with friends, watch movies, or go shopping, etc. When alone, I would occupy myself with watching films or dramas of all genres, locking myself in the rectangular screen, and experiencing the satisfying roller coaster of human emotions. But after the interesting movie or drama would come to an end, a strong sense of emptiness would envelope me as I pondered, ‘Alas! Another good movie has ended. I have lost my joy and satisfaction again.’ So, I would try to find a new, good movie to watch so that I could fill myself with new happiness and satisfaction. And the vicious cycle went on and on.”

The happiness and satisfaction we feel momentarily are merely extraneous, not the real joy that emanates from within our heart. Happiness is a fleeting emotion. Material enjoyment can never satisfy us. This is the reason why we often sense an emptiness deep inside. We are constantly pursuing bliss and happiness, but they continue to elude us. But we thank God for His great love toward us. He promised us, “…whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall by no means thirst forever; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life” (John 4:14).

We thirst because we have been drinking the wrong kind of water. God is the source of all things. Only when our spirit, deep within our being, drinks of the right water, the living water, can we obtain true satisfaction.