Finding Capital-H Happiness

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You believe that because of this, non-believers can never be truly happy with a capital H. What does that mean about how Jesus is part of the definition of happiness for you?

Some people say happiness is conditioned by what's happening around. If what happens around you is not to your pleasure, then you're unhappy. Whereas joy is geared and bound to the "Rock of Ages," which is Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "Ask and you will receive so that your joy may be complete."

Listen to clips from Luis Palau's DC Festival

Jesus Christ said he came that we might have life and have it in abundance. So whatever the circumstances, if you live in Sudan and you're being persecuted by criminal pseudo-military forces, the believer knows that God has a purpose, that this is unpleasant and hateful, but that somehow it fulfills the purposes of God.

How do you personally deal with moments of doubt or disappointment?

I learned early on, watching my mother's reaction to my dad's death. I was 10 years old when my dad died. To me, he was perfect. He was a great Christian, a successful businessman, and a loving dad. He disciplined me, in those days they pulled the belt and hit your bottom, and it did me a lot of good.

His death left a terrible vacuum. I have five sisters-one wasn't born yet, she was on the way-but my mom rested in Christ, quoted the scriptures, believed that God has a purpose, did not despair. She cried, but it wasn't the tears of despair, anger, shaking a fist at God. It was basically the loneliness. I watched her, and I learned a lot from her.

Then my wife and I, we've been married many years. And she had breast cancer, and she went through that. We had four little boys, and boy, to see her resting in the promise of God, singing the old hymns that brought her reminders of the rock-bottom reality of the living God.... She felt, "I am protected by the Lord, I am held by the Lord."

You learn to say, Lord, I don't like what I'm going through, I don't know why you are putting me through this. Lord, you know what's best for our family, you know what's best for us. I'm going to keep my mouth shut, and wait on the Lord.

How do you communicate these ideas to what I imagine are sometimes cynical audiences at your evangelistic festivals?

The way I approach it is simply, "God likes you as well as loves you." I think a lot of people feel, "God loves me because he has to. But does he like me?"

God actually likes you. He made you, and he's got a beautiful purpose for your life.

I talk to kids a lot. I say, "God wants you to have an overflowing life. He doesn't want to dump religion on you, he wants to come into your life and make you a full person. If marriage is in his plan, he will bring you the best person for you. Wait on him." I try to show that Christ really wants them happy. To do so you have to remove the problem, which is our selfishness and sin and improper behavior-I always go back to the cross and the resurrection.

"A high percentage think they know what the Bible teaches but in fact they've never cracked the book."
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