My Happiness?

      Does our heavenly Father want us to always be happy?  Is our happiness his main goal?  There is a church pamphlet on Chasity that is very good.  We would all be better off to live our lives according to God's laws.  The author of this pamphlet begins by saying that our heavenly Father loves us and wants us to be happy today and forever.  Could the author have used the word "holiness" instead of happiness?
      If you study church history from the days of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, you may find that they set aside their own happiness to embrace plural marriage.  The put what they believed to be the laws of God ahead of their own happiness.  Life was very hard for the early Mormons as they traveled west through danger and cold winters.  Many died or lost children to sickness.
      The apostle Paul set aside his own pursuit of happiness to follow God.  In 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 he writes, "Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?"
      Jesus made an unpopular statement that is related to "our happiness" in Matthew 16:24-26: "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
      Jesus said those who are persecuted are blessed and should rejoice in Matthew 5:10-12.  "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
      According to James, we should be joyful in trials because they are necessary for our maturity.  James 1:2-4 says,  "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
      After you have lived a number of years, you will probable experience a very sad event that is hard to understand.  Not having the answers to difficult circumstances is a trial in itself.  God is all-powerful and yet He allows things to happen to us.  Job, in the Old Testament, is an incredible story and example of this.  He lost all his children, his riches and his health.  At the end of the book, God blessed him with more children and great riches.  I think it is fair to say that our immediate pursuit of happiness is not God's top priority.  He may put our need for maturity, holiness and future rewards ahead of our pursuit of happiness.  

Depression

      When I was about 14 or 15 years old, my ambitions were to become a professional bike rider and a professional musician.  One day I realized that those ambitions would not bring real happiness or satisfaction in life.  I went into a deep depression.  I felt like my life was about as valuable as a pile of beans.  It was actually a spirit of depression that was oppressing me.  It seemed hopeless.  When I was home alone, I got down on my knees and asked God to help me.  Suddenly I realized that God wanted me to put Him first.  To follow God completely, he had to be the most important part of my life - not music, not bike riding, not fame, not success but God.  Even though I had gone to church I had not realized this.  I thought to myself, "why didn't people tell me".  Maybe they did and I didn't listen.  I told God I would give Him the number one place in my life if He would help me.  Then the depression went away and I felt God's peace!  It was incredible!
      This was not the end of the problem, however.  When I was 11th grade, I had another time of heavy depression.  I know I prayed for a number of hours.  I remember I was sitting in a crowded Spanish class at my high school, when the answer came to me.  It was the same spirit of depression  It had returned to oppress me again.  As I prayed specifically about it, God took it away from me.  During high school, I put God first in my life.  It was the most spiritual time of my life.  I felt very close to God.  
      The Bible tells us that we can be spiritually attacked.  I Peter 5:6-8 says, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"  Ephesians 6:10-17 says, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."