What Do We Need to Feel Stable, Hopeful, and Happy? A Christian Counselor Explains

What do people need to feel secure, happy, full of hope, and trust in the outcomes of culture and life? It seems to me that God does not lose touch with his creation even in the most desperate of times. In the Christian faith, God is both above his creation and immanent with it.

The immanence of God is the idea that God is present in the material world and can be perceived or known. It’s a doctrine that’s held by some metaphysical and philosophical theories of God’s presence. Immanence also describes God’s authority and control over creation, and how He is present in a personal way with his people.

These days I find a lot of fear and anxiety in our culture and I suspect it is largely due to the abandonment of Godly principles and a rash turning toward humanistic beliefs. This is actually predicted in the Bible.

The Apostle Paul says:

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. – 2 Timothy 3:1-4, NIV

I picked those verses because that does not seem secure, happy, full of hope and trust. I am not predicting that we are in the end times. There have always been those who believe that when things get worse, the end times must be upon us.

No, I am not saying that, but I do notice that we are living in times that are making people fearful, insecure, and lost. It seems that every day I encounter people – including believers – who have so much fear and feel the loss of stability in life.

So I ask, what do we need to feel stable, hopeful, and happy?

Here is my shortlist.

We need to be fully aware that there is a God who loves us and is active in our lives. We then need to trust in that God and know that in terrible times there is no place else to turn other than to the God who is revealed in the Bible and made clear in Jesus Christ. He is the one who created us and is immanent in our lives. This is first and foremost in my thinking.

We need to not love money and not bow down to worship those who have money. Most people I know, who have lots of money, are not truly happy. Let’s face it, how much is enough? Answer: just a little more. “Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:23, NIV) Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NIV) says, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity”

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV

Take the focus off of ourselves and care for others. I find the best of life is helping others and not trying to hold on to our wealth, status, and power. Many people believe in getting all they can, canning all they get, and then sitting on what they have. Real joy comes from giving it away.

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers – Proverbs 31:28, NIV

We need to have good families and raise children to be healthy adults. In the Old Testament, people would see children and children’s children as a blessing from God and a living legacy. If you want joy, you have to be involved in leaving a legacy. Healthy children that bring you blessings are the joy of age.

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever. – 1 Chronicles 16:34, NIV

Give thanks for all the good things we have been given,

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. – Ephesians 4:32, NIV

Forgive one another. You cannot be happy and harbor unforgiveness.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. – James 1:19-20, NIV

Let go of all that anger you carry. No one makes you angry – you decide to get angry. Angry people are rarely happy and seem to always find conflict.

To be happy means we live congruently with what we know to be good and right. Life is not all about us and we cannot go around lying and cheating and think everything will be fine. Character counts and character is who you are when not one is watching. If you want to be happy you must know who you are and know there is nothing to hide. No lies or deceit

For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind. – 2 Timothy 1:7, NIV

The original Greek word translated as “sound mind” is sophronismos, which can also be translated as “self-control”, “self-discipline”, “discipline”, “good judgment”, or “sound judgment”.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. – John 13:34, NIV

Don’t promote yourself – that is what narcissists do.

Love each other in a way that makes you feel close like brothers and sisters. And give each other more honor than you give yourself. – Romans 12:10, NIV

Who does not want to be a part of a loving, caring community? Community happens when we lift others up before us.

There. That is not such a long journey and certainly not impossible, at least it is not impossible with God’s help.

Christian counseling to feel stable, hopeful, and happy

If you need some help God has placed us in your way to help you on your journey toward feeling secure, happy, full of hope, and trust that is what we are here to do! Seattle Christian Counseling is here to encourage you and help you find joy peace and the life you long for.