How to (Not) Pursue Happiness : Why We Get It Wrong, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It

Why do so many Jesus followers seem so unhappy--or even skeptical of happiness? For centuries, Christians--from early apologists to desert monks to modern theologians--saw happiness as a natural side effect of life with God. But today, many religious communities view happiness with suspicion, as if joy were somehow incompatible with holiness. This isn't just untrue; it's unbiblical. In How to (Not) Pursue Happiness you will discover why happiness isn't a worldly indulgence but a gift we come to appreciate through life with God. Griffin Gooch draws from church history, psychology, philosophy, and Scripture to recover a fuller vision of joy--one rooted in the conviction that happiness is a universal desire that can only be truly satisfied through the life Jesus offers. Whether you're weary of religious guilt, disenchanted with performative piety, or simply longing for a richer, more joyful walk with God, this book will show you how happiness, rightly understood, can draw you deeper into a flourishing relationship with God.