Secrets to Real Happiness

Ever since I turned eighteen, I was always looking for the next thing that would give my life a sense of fulfillment and purpose. Like many young people I see today, I was looking for happiness in things that weren’t lasting, romantic relationships, careers, money, partying, social media, friends etc.

I have always wondered what I would do if my happiness was taken away? I have also asked myself where my source of happiness comes from, and who can stand by me in times of need?

In my own personal quest for answers to all my worries, I came across Laura‘s Instagram. Laura is a lovely twenty three year old who currently works in Southampton. Despite Laura’s personal struggles and the pandemic, Laura’s page was full of positivity and what felt like a light in these dark times. This led me to wonder where Laura’s strength and positivity came from and where I could find it too. We set up a call and Laura kindly shared her personal testimony with me.

Laura’s Story

Ever since I turned eighteen, I was always looking for the next thing that would give my life a sense of fulfilment and purpose. Like many young people I see today, I was looking for happiness in things that weren’t lasting, romantic relationships, careers, money, partying, social media, friends etc. Whereas these things provided me with a moment of happiness, but none of it lasted. When I was in school, I thought taking a year gap would bring me happiness, but it did not, and I thought going to university would do it just for me. Did it? No.

Then I thought leaving university studies to find a job and earn money would make me happy, in the end I had to quit my job as a sales manager and started really wondering where I could truly find real happiness and fulfilment in life.

The reality is that real happiness is hard to get without God. I see so many people searching for happiness the same way I used to, but I can personally testify that nothing in this world has ever given me lasting joy but rather moments of pleasure. Dare I say…true happiness doesn’t even come from my partner, whom I have known for eight years. It doesn’t mean to say, that my partner doesn’t do everything he can to make me happy, but we are all human, we are not perfect, and therefore I cannot depend totally on him for my happiness. What the world offers is moments of happiness, and people are left confused when those moments come to an end, because they thought they had found true joy. Happiness doesn’t come from things you can see, but from the one whom you don’t see but ever present, which is God.

I can confidently say there is no one and nothing in which I have found lasting joy apart from God. The Bible says in Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything; but pray about everything. With a thankful heart offer your prayers and request to God”.  God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand because you belong to Him. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.”

This scripture tells us how we need not worry because we can give God all our worries and in exchange, God will give us His peace. In addition, this peace will bring happiness and joy that is inexplicable. God created so many beautiful and amazing people, but we all have our faults, so your happiness cannot depend on a person and it certainly cannot depend on anything else.

Watch out for the concluding part of Laura’s Story!