Student Ministry Blog

I once heard a man say he was leaving his wife because he wasn’t happy, and hadn’t been for a very long time. He rationalized that God wanted him to be happy. He concluded that the only way to achieve happiness was to end his marriage and move on.  I have a friend who is restless. He moves from one job to another, often having to relocate. His reason, every time he finds the “perfect job” he eventually becomes disenchanted with it and unhappy. He discovers another job that he believes will make him happy and pursues it. It’s a vicious cycle.

Isn’t it funny how happiness can be so elusive? Happiness means different things to different people. We might even say that everyone is looking for happiness, but where do we look? Where will we find it? What is it? Many teens are looking for happiness — in relationships, success, appearances, the right circumstances. All of these things will fail a teen at some point. We’re beginning Refuge in 2012 asking the question, “What is happiness?” What do I base it on? How can I find contentment and joy in all circumstances.

We will begin by looking at the desire to find happiness in relationships, especially with those of the opposite sex. The second week, we’ll expose the lie that happiness comes through success and accomplishments. Third, we’ll expose the lie that one must look, dress, wear the right labels, or have the right look in order to be happy. The series will conclude with a study of what it means to find happiness, joy and contentment in any situation. Our prayer is that through this series students will develop a deeper trust, and greater intimacy with the Lord that brings them to a place where they find joy and contentment in being a child of God.

Every Thursday, a lesson summary and some “Table Talk” questions will be made available on this blog for you. Take time to talk through these issues with your teen. Our prayer is that you have significant conversations about faith, culture and what it means to follow Jesus and be happy.