Finding the True Source of Happiness and Satisfaction in Christ
Scripture
All my fountains are in you. Psalm 87:7 (NIV)
Instead of chasing the next best thing, let's seek the Lord and find true joy, satisfaction, and identity in Him. I hope this inspiring devotional encourages you to cling to the ultimate Source of fulfillment.
A friend from my past, whom I hadn’t seen in 25 years, recently reached out to me via Facebook with a heartwarming message. At one point, she wrote, “I am glad you found your happiness in writing.”
This message provoked me. Is this so? Did I truly find my happiness in being a writer, artist, and creative, living out my dream of serving the Lord this way?
My answer is yes and no. Yes, because serving the Lord this way brings me deep satisfaction, joy, and purpose. But it is also a no, because writing brings me a lot of frustration, discouragement, struggles, and tears, too.
It is not the source of my happiness. It is my vocation, my calling, and just one of the ways I serve the Lord.
Finding the Unchangeable Source of Happiness and Satisfaction in Christ
In the different seasons of life, God may call us to other missions, assignments, and ministries. Serving the Lord and co-working with His Spirit is a great source of happiness and satisfaction, but it is not meant to be the source.
The Lord wants to be our one and only, the center of our universe, the ultimate source of our happiness. He wants us to declare joyfully with the psalmist:
“All my fountains are in you.” Psalm 87:7 (NIV)
There are many reasons for this. One of the most important things is that everything changes. Everything and everyone will inevitably disappoint us and fail us in some way. Only God remains unchangeable, stable, and trustworthy because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” Hebrews 13:8 (NIV).
Only He can bear this responsibility to satisfy us completely because He is our Creator, Sustainer, and Lover.
Finding Our Happiness in God’s Complete Knowledge and Care
Only God can truly see us, know us, and love us with perfect love. We can rest and find peace and happiness in His complete knowledge and care, as David did in this beautiful psalm: “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:16–17 (NIV)
God is our safest person. In His presence, we can be completely ourselves, without masks and without pretense. We can be like in Eden: completely naked spiritually, mentally, and emotionally before the Lord without the fear of being judged or abandoned. He is our true home, and at home we feel happiest.
Getting What We Want Is Not the Answer
Often, we wrongly assume that if we get what we want in life, this will bring us complete happiness and satisfaction. We want our desires fulfilled, our goals achieved, and our plans implemented. We crave success, favorable circumstances, and thriving relationships. There is nothing wrong with that except that all these things are not meant to bring us lasting happiness and satisfaction. They can’t feel the void in the heart which only God can fill. Finding happiness in Christ is our only and best option.
We can be single or widowed and still be happy in the Lord. We can have our dream job or just work for a pay slip and still be joyful in the Lord. Our dreams may remain unfulfilled and longings unmet, and still we can be completely satisfied in the Lord. This is the abundant life Jesus gives to all believers.
Let’s not look at the circumstances, at our successes and failures, at our work, at other people, at what we have, or at what we lack as our sources of satisfaction.
Let’s make God and His love our greatest source of happiness. He is the true source.
To learn more about why getting what we want isn't the answer to our longing for happiness, check out Hadassah’s book SATISFIED: Why Getting What We Want Is Not the Answer.
Questions for Reflection
What or who brings you the greatest satisfaction right now?
Is there something missing in your life that you think prevents you from being happy and satisfied?
Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, I declare that You are the true and eternal source of my happiness and satisfaction. Forgive me for the times when I looked up to other people and things to fill my hunger for happiness. Help me make You the center of my life and seek You to satisfy my needs, desires, and deepest longings. All my sources are in You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Meet Our Guest Writer
Hadassah Treu is an award-winning bilingual author, blogger, poet, speaker, and spiritual growth coach; a communication specialist and translator, holding a master's in international relations, living in Bulgaria. She is the Encouraging Blogger Award Winner for 2020 and the Literature Award Winner of the Municipality of Pazardzhik, Bulgaria for 2024, а winner of the National Literary Translation Award "Stoyan Bakardzhiev", Bulgaria for 2025, and the first prize essay winner in the "Freedom for All" contest, 2025.
As an author of five books (two poetry books and three non-fiction books) and co-author of fourteen devotional and poetry anthologies, Hadassah loves to encourage and motivate people to stand firm in the faith and grow spiritually by applying biblical truths in their lives. Her book, "Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become a Birthplace of Blessings" is a must-read for any Christian who is seeking spiritual gain after a season of losses and suffering. Her new book, SATISFIED: Why Getting What We Want Is Not the Answer, released in October 2026, offers a language for grief, permission to wrestle, and a deeper vision of a fruitful life.
Featured on over 100 faith-based platforms and podcasts like Her View from Home, The Upper Room, (In)courage, Living by Design, Proverbs 31 Ministries, COMPEL Pro Blog, she is a hope-bringing speaker and writer at onthewaybg.com, which is in the Top 100 Faith Blogs ranked by Feedspot in 2025 and 2026. Hadassah is a professional member of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) and COMPEL Pro Training member, leader, and contributor.
Hadassah is no stranger to suffering and loss. From the platform of her greatest pains, equipped with lessons gathered on the way, she delivers a powerful message of comfort and hope, found in God's Word.
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