{"id":26778,"date":"2025-04-15T17:08:26","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T15:08:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/?p=26778"},"modified":"2025-04-15T17:08:29","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T15:08:29","slug":"happiness-that-lasts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/happiness-that-lasts\/","title":{"rendered":"Happiness that Lasts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Some truths take centuries for science to catch up to Scripture. One of those truths is this: Happiness doesn\u2019t follow success. It precedes it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Top researchers like Dr. Raj Raghunathan and Tal Ben-Shahar, both of whom I\u2019ve had the privilege to interview, have shown that happiness isn\u2019t something we unlock after we\u2019ve achieved our goals. It\u2019s the foundation that allows us to reach them in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This flips the cultural formula we\u2019ve been taught: Work hard, succeed, then be happy. But in reality, it looks more like this: Cultivate joy, gain clarity, energy, and resilience, and success follows. As Christians, this shouldn\u2019t surprise us. Joy isn\u2019t a luxury or bonus. It\u2019s a fruit of the Holy Spirit, a natural result of walking with God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Galatians 5:22\u201323 tells us: \u201cBut the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joy isn\u2019t meant to be rare. It\u2019s meant to be normal.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I had everything \u2013 but not joy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I first noticed the disconnect in college. While visiting my dad in Mozambique, I had money, a motorcycle, and a lively social life. But one night, I came home at 3 am, frustrated and empty. As I parked, I saw two house guards dancing barefoot to music from a tiny radio. They had nothing. But they had joy. And I didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Years later, I stood on global stages as a successful recording artist, entertaining millions. I had \u201cmade it.\u201d But that moment in Mozambique stayed with me: Joy isn\u2019t found at the top. It\u2019s built from within.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joy is a leadership advantage<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We live in an anxious, burned-out world. But as followers of Jesus, we\u2019re called to a different source. Joy isn\u2019t something we wait to feel. It\u2019s something we build with God\u2019s help. And the more we do, the more we experience peace, clarity, and lasting impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to build a joy-fueled future?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On May 4, I\u2019m hosting the Xponential Intensive \u2013 a three-hour online experience where we\u2019ll do the deep work of transforming anxiety into daily joy. I\u2019ll walk you through the exact practices I teach my high-level coaching clients \u2013 tools to create meaningful work and holistic success \u2013 delivered in a focused format for a fraction of the cost. Only a few spots available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apply here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re reading this from a developing nation and cost is a challenge, message me directly at cr@3rddrive.com<\/a> for a special discount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christian Ray Flores is an evangelist, coach, and entrepreneur. Get weekly insights on success and significance at www.christianrayflores.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Some truths take centuries for science to catch up to Scripture. One of those truths is this: Happiness doesn\u2019t follow…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":26779,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[71],"tags":[],"post_folder":[151],"class_list":["post-26778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/257126f0-4021-4b63-9422-3680d6c3ec03.jpg?fit=1300%2C1300&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"Sunday Awolowo","author_link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/author\/sawolowo\/"},"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phsvEw-6XU","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":29470,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/divine-tension-embracing-the-fullness-of-gods-truth-part-1\/","url_meta":{"origin":26778,"position":0},"title":"Divine Tension: Embracing the Fullness of God\u2019s Truth – Part 1","author":"Sunday Awolowo","date":"December 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Any serious reader of the Bible soon discovers an uncomfortable reality: the fullness of God's truth is often held in tension. 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