Things Jesus Never SaidSample

Go your way and do what makes you happy.

“Manipulating your way into personal control so you can guarantee that you will get what you think you need is natural.” Dr. Paul David Tripp

Just as we sometimes confuse following Jesus as some self-salvation plan that will one day make our lives more perfect and trouble-free, other times we confuse the way of Jesus with the pursuit of happiness. 

The mental math works like this: God is good and happiness is good, so God must want me to figure out how to be happy. Also, this thing, relationship, or way of life makes me happy, so God must want me to go get it for myself. 

If you’re feeling cornered right about now, don’t. You’re not alone. This kind of thinking is natural. In his New Year, New Mercies Bible Plan, Dr. Paul David Tripp relates, “Wishing that you were more sovereign over people, situations, and locations than you will ever be is natural.” It’s natural to want your own way. It’s natural to try to arrange your life so that you don’t experience discomfort. It’s natural to want Jesus, religion, or reading the Bible to make your life work out. It’s natural to go to entertainment, stuff, or substance to mute the noise when religion doesn’t work out. It’s natural to try and do whatever it takes to be happy. 

It’s natural, but is it working? When we realize that at the end of every human attempt to secure our own happiness is less security and more unhappiness, that is when we can finally see Jesus for who He really is. Jesus is enough. 

Jesus never said, “Go your way and do what makes you happy.” He said He is the way, the truth, and the life. He said no one comes to the Father except through Him. Jesus is enough.

Jesus never said you can’t be happy. He did, however, imply you can’t find real joy, deep happiness, true restoration, or realize the forever-saving love of our heavenly Father without going through Him as if He alone is enough. Because, Jesus is enough. 

Thankfully, Jesus loves you so much He gets in the way of our pursuit of happiness. He enters your world and gives up His life so you can finally give up on trying to figure out what makes you happy. To quote Dr. Tripp, “He is rescuing you from thinking that you can live the life you were meant to live while relying on the inadequate resources of your wisdom, experience, righteousness, and strength.”

That’s not natural. That’s supernatural. That’s who Jesus is—Jesus is enough.

Consider: How have I been trying to arrange for my own happiness? How would my life look different if I lived like Jesus was enough?