Happiness
“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.” Proverbs 3:13-18 (NIV)
Nothing is quite as painful for a parent as watching a child struggle. How many times have we said—or heard someone say—“I just want my child to be happy”?
We watch with such hope as they grow and mature. We believe, with fierce commitment, that they carry untold and untapped potential. We encourage, protect, push, pick up, and press on with them for every possibility. And of course, we pray.
But here’s the question: are we truly placing their hand in the hand of Jesus and stepping out of His way?
Do we believe that struggle is part of the process and that trials are the very fuel that produces triumph? Or do we rescue too quickly, trying to spare them pain—when God may be shaping something eternal in their lives?
And another question: do we honestly want them to be happy, or are we seeking a happiness that will also make us feel at peace?
Who defines “happy”? The answer often depends on age and stage:
A 2-year-old’s happy looks like mom nearby.
A 5-year-old’s happy is playdates and friends.
A 10-year-old’s happy is making the team.
A 14-year-old’s happy is getting a phone.
A 16-year-old’s happy may be a driver’s license and independence.
An 18-year-old’s happy is freedom and new beginnings.
A 20-year-old’s happy may be success, relationships, or opportunity.
Happiness shifts and changes with every season. But God’s Word gives us a definition that doesn’t change.
Happy is the one who finds wisdom—not wealth, not worldly success, not the temporary pleasures of the hour. Happy is the one who gains understanding.
So often, the things we chase on behalf of our children—the grades, the trophies, the opportunities—fall short of what truly lasts. But wisdom? Wisdom yields life, honor, peace, and joy.
The benefits of wisdom are clear:
Length of days
Riches and honor
Pleasantness
Peace
Life-sustaining strength
True happiness
As parents, our role is not to define “happy” for our children in worldly terms, but to point them toward the source of wisdom. Happiness is not found in the next achievement, possession, or milestone. It is found in a life rooted in the wisdom of God.
The question for us, then, is this: will we measure success for our children by the fleeting standards of culture, or by the eternal promises of God?
