Quote:
Originally Posted by mangler241
It's not that important or relevent to increase happiness if you're a believer; after all, believers shouldn't be hedonists.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I apologize to the readers for my confusion. I'll try to clarify some things in my next post. This can be a complicated discussion, as I knew that "Happy" and "Suffer" could somehow be intertwined with each other.
That being the case, I will try to explain some of my views which might help you understand my way of thinking and hopefully I can make my thoughts more clear in the future.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mangler241
I don't think you should avoid suffering or persecution, especially for righteousness. Consider Yeshua and many of the early believers; also, what about those that have given up their lives to preach the "gospel of the Kingdom " elsewhere? Read James 1:2-8. [ Note that "pure joy" and "happiness" are not identical. ]
Interesting thoughts, but if your life is so devastating that you do not wish to live, then happiness becomes very important or relevant. If happiness is fleeting then we can replace "happiness" for "Joy." Use any word that you like as long as the result is wanting to live.
It's easy to say that I should suffer, quite another thing to actually experience being ignored, neglected and terrified. I'm sure God would say that I'm blessed. Still, I'm trying to look at the "results" in my life and try to relate that to my "actions," as difficult that may be. And I think that I might be closer to obtaining this elusive contentment that I seek.