Debunking The Myth Of Happiness In The Millennial Generation

Psalm 144:15 Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.

We seem to be a generation that is obsessed with finding happiness. Social media streets are littered with quotes such as “Do whatever makes you happy“. Friendships and family ties are built and broken depending with the kind of advice you give. If, you advised that happiness is sought above any other thing, bravo! You are a good friend.

We are a generation that idolizes instant gratification. The sexual revolution has gone a notch higher in the 21st century. Amongst us is a generation that is highly addicted to all manner of things: sex, alcohol, drugs, gambling, social media. Strangely, we are also a generation that seems to be severely depressed and anxious. So, even though we seem to be pursuing happiness at whatever cost, we can’t seem to find it.

We want our jobs to make us happy. We want our relationships to make us happy. We are quitting jobs and relationships based on the fact that we are unhappy. Movie after movie from Hollywood, we are shown countless scripts of stars who quit their jobs and relationships because they were unhappy but managed to find happiness in subsequent jobs and relationships; a fallacy.

But what really is happiness? Is it euphoria? Can our jobs and our relationships really make us happy? Can more money make us happy? If you are a millennial, I bet you are old enough to have realized by now that it is possible to have everything you dreamed of having and still have a deep emptiness inside. Wanting to be happy is not necessarily wrong, the problem is that we begin to worship the things that we expect to make us happy. What is the end result? Disappointment when we realize the things we thought would make us happy only made us realize how empty we actually are.

1 Timothy 6:6-11 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

In order to debunk this myth of euphoric happiness, first, is to diagnose what we are suffering from, and one of the ailments is that we suffer from a lack of contentment. We were created to want more and yet at the same time to look at what we have in our hands and give thanks because, it is ENOUGH. We are looking at what we have in our hands and calling it NOTHING. The end result? We are growing the monster of greed because we want more and more and nothing seems to be enough.

We were created to fit into a God who has a place for us in Him. To walk with our hands held by His because we are just but children. God would wants us to be happy, but He wants something more authentic for us; joy. The kingdom of God is completely averse to the ways of the world. In fact Jesus openly declared that the wisdom of God is foolishness to the world. Yet, these very ways that the world considers foolish are they keys to joy and fulfillment.

Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans strive after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.…

To the millennial reading this, I hope you can stop looking within, that you can stop looking without and instead lift up your eyes to God. Joy and peace can only be achieved through trusting in God. We were not created for worry. We were not created to figure things out on our own; that is depressing. Our joy and satisfaction will only be found when we allow God to be our Lord.