Can't we Just be Happy?

As the holidays approach, families gather around tables that often need an extra leaf or two to make space for everyone at the yearly well-attended meal—quilts spread across the couch, and kitchens filled with the smell of fresh bread.

These traditions remind us of connection and belonging, yet the season also carries a sobering truth.

Studies show that death rates tend to rise around Thanksgiving and Christmas, particularly from heart disease and other natural causes, with peaks on December 25, 26, and January 1—even in warm-weather regions like New Zealand (Phillips et al., 2004; Kloner, 2011). Stress, disrupted routines, loneliness, and delayed medical care all contribute.

This contrast—celebration alongside fragility—highlights why lessons in happiness, faith, and resilience matter so deeply. It’s a season meant for joy, but it can also carry a hidden weight.

That’s why learning and practicing the keys to happiness isn’t just about chasing fleeting good feelings. Sometimes, it’s about survival. It’s about cultivating a peace and joy deep enough to carry us through life’s hardest seasons.

Because happiness is on my mind, this article may end up being one of multiple explorations into what faith, science, and handmade traditions can teach us about lasting joy. I hope you'll track with us through this, but most of all I hope God blesses us with open hearts and His peace.

Jesus and the Keys to Happiness

Emmet Fox, a spiritual teacher in the early 20th century, called Jesus “the most important figure that has ever appeared in the history of mankind. Whether you view Him as God, prophet, or teacher, His Sermon on the Mount in Galilee has outlasted empires."

Fox warned that human interpretations sometimes distort the Bible, not out of malice, but from ignorance or a limited perspective. Jesus Himself kept it simple: happiness is not about doctrines or systems—it is about living close to God, forgiving freely, and practicing love above all. 

Billy Graham echoed that same truth in his book The Secret of Happiness, pointing out that happiness is never found by seeking it directly. Instead, it is the by-product of pursuing what really matters—humility, purity, peace, and a heart aligned with God.

James Montgomery Boice, in his exposition of the Sermon on the Mount, adds that the “blessedness” Jesus described in the Beatitudes is not a fleeting feeling but a settled joy that grows from spiritual character and Kingdom living.

In short: Jesus gave us the keys to happiness, and they still turn the lock today.

Believers and Non-Believers: What Research Shows

Of course, some might wonder—does faith actually make people happier? Modern research has a lot to say.

  • A massive review of over 850 studies concluded that people who are religiously involved report greater life satisfaction, more positive emotions, and lower rates of depression, suicide, and substance abuse (Koenig et al., 2012).
  • A study from the London School of Economics found that religious participation is uniquely tied to sustained happiness—more so than volunteering, education, or community involvement (Lelkes, 2013).
  • The Pew Research Center reports that people who are actively religious—attending services and practicing their faith—are more likely to describe themselves as “very happy” compared to the unaffiliated (Pew, 2019).
  • Globally, believers tend to report greater trust, health, and satisfaction with life (Okulicz-Kozaryn, 2021).

While many people from all walks of life experience happiness in life, the Bible and research alike show that the deepest, most lasting joy comes from living according to the teachings of Jesus—rooted in love, forgiveness, meaning, and community.

Happiness: Handmade, Not Mass-Produced

Just like handmade quilts, pottery, wooden gifts, or cottage foods, happiness is not mass-produced. You can’t buy it off a shelf or roll it off a factory line, although I know people who would argue that point, saying, “Enough money and many of your troubles vanish, which makes a person happy.” To them, I say lasting joy is both a craft and an investment.

 It’s carefully stitched together piece by piece, shaped with intention like clay in a potter’s hands, or carved patiently like wood becoming art. At the same time, it’s built like a bank account—one small deposit at a time. Each act of kindness, each moment of faith, love, or gratitude adds to the balance, creating a storehouse of peace and contentment that no hardship or envy can take away.

Consider the story of Joseph in the Bible: his father, Jacob, gave him a coat of many colors, made and given with deep love. That coat, meant as a symbol of affection and favor, stirred jealousy in his brothers and ultimately caused him great hardship.

Centuries later, Dolly Parton sings about her own coat of many colors, handmade by her mother. It too was stitched with love, yet it brought envy from schoolmates. In both cases, the coats were tangible expressions of care, beauty, and value—but they also exposed the realities of human jealousy, struggle, and the challenges of being blessed in ways others may not understand.

In His' Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains that true happiness, blessedness, doesn't come from wealth, comfort, or status, but from being rightly related to God and living out His kingdom values.  It requires patience, intention, and love. Researchers back this up: those who cultivate meaningful relationships, participate in spiritual communities, and practice gratitude experience greater life satisfaction, more positive emotions, and lower rates of depression and stress (Koenig et al., 2012).

Continuing with my analogy of how handmade things can carry love into people’s lives—like Joseph’s coat or Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors”—the moments we intentionally create with care, faith, and generosity are much the same. These intentional creations become lasting treasures—gifts that shine even through envy, hardship, or life’s ‘joy-stealers.’ In the end, our lives are the sum of the choices we make.

Looking Ahead

I am not a theologian by any stretch of the imagination. I’m a sinner too, and in need of forgiveness. When I was teaching school, one of the things I often asked students was, "What would your life be like if you stopped learning anything more than you know right now? Versus, what would your life be like if you never stopped learning?"

The responses were generally thoughtful. The students concluded that being a life-long learner would be better and make you a better and smarter person. 

In the spirit of learning, I will be sharing my thoughts and ramblings, along with some friends sharing their perspectives, about “Can’t We Just Be Happy?” We’ll look at the Sermon on the Mount and uncover the timeless principles Jesus gave us. Along the way, we’ll bring in wisdom from writers like Emmet Fox, Billy Graham, and James Montgomery Boice and others, and we’ll weave those truths together with what science shows about human well-being.

Because if there’s one thing we all long for—whether we’re creating and crafting, sharing a meal, or worshiping together—it’s happiness that lasts. Good news friends, Jesus gave us the way,

No, I don't know that smiling man and his really cute Golden, I just liked the vibe of the photo!

Subscribe to make sure you don't miss my thoughts and ramblings on the Sermon on the Mount. Talk soon!

 

References

 

 

I’m Lauren—a writer, educator, and novelty quilter with over 30 years of experience in service and sales. I’ve taught high school English and worked as a local journalist and now channel my passion for craftsmanship as the founder of Artisan Shop USA, a marketplace that supports vendors of handmade artistry and the sharing of faith, family and country. I’m also a proud wife, mom, bulldog caretaker, and lifelong lover of beauty and storytelling.

Back to blog