I Just Want to Be Happy. Don’t You?

By: Samuel Neudeck Date: 4/21/2021

Introduction

Have you ever questioned your purpose in life? Ever felt like no matter what you do, it’s never enough? Every day, we’re bombarded by self-help gurus and so-called prophets claiming to have the secret to happiness. Many of them latch onto the idea that something is fundamentally broken in today’s society. They tell us that the way we lived 50 years ago doesn’t align with the economic and cultural realities we face now. My goal is to peel back the layers of these misconceptions and help you confront the real issues that may be holding you back from true happiness.

The American Dream vs. The American Minimum: The Truth About Success

We’ve all heard of the American Dream—the ideal that has drawn people to this country for centuries. But in today’s world, that dream has evolved into something different: the American minimum.

We’re sold a formula for happiness that goes something like this:

• Get good grades, go to college
• Find a career, get married, buy a house and a car
• Work hard, save for retirement, and eventually, you’ll be happy

But the reality? This path often leads to anxiety and greed, not fulfillment. We spend our lives accumulating material things we don’t really need and chasing a sense of status that ultimately leaves us empty. By the time we reach retirement, inflation has eroded our savings, and we’re left with an unfulfilled life—our wealth and status having taken priority over family, relationships, and real contentment.

What It’s Doing to Society

Our society has become medicated, distracted, and divided:

• Money: We chase get-rich-quick schemes and fall prey to materialism.
• Control: Status and power become our focus, leaving us desensitized and obsessed with career success.
• Substance Abuse: Alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, and even prescription drugs become crutches for our dissatisfaction.
• Relationships: Marriages, friendships, and family bonds often fray under the weight of societal expectations.
• Hobbies: We pursue thrill-seeking and risky behavior to fill the void.

In the midst of all this, divisions grow, and people become more confused in their search for truth.

My Story

Seven years ago, I fell into the same trap. I grew up in a stable home with two Christian parents and seven siblings on a Michigan farm. Hard work, good grades, and strong moral values were expected of me. After graduating high school with honors, I followed the path that society laid out: go to college, get a degree, find a job, get married, and live the “American Dream.”

But that dream didn’t bring me happiness. By the time I finished college, I was $30,000 in debt, addicted to drugs and alcohol, and had lost close friends. My life felt like it was unraveling. It hit rock bottom when I found myself going door-to-door, offering to clean houses just to afford a meal. It was in that moment that I decided enough was enough.

I started going back to church and praying. Through that spiritual connection, God freed me from my addictions. But it wasn’t easy—it took a lot of effort to clean up my life. Despite overcoming those struggles, the pressure to be successful still loomed large. I thought I had to be perfect—to meet everyone’s expectations.

Without realizing it, I dragged this mindset into every area of my life: my relationship with God, my marriage, and even my business. I became obsessed with success. I bought online courses, listened to gurus, and tried to find a shortcut to happiness and financial freedom. My fears and anxieties drove me back to old habits, like nicotine and marijuana. I was so focused on the future and “getting ahead” that I neglected my wife’s feelings and desires. After four years, my marriage fell apart, and my business failed.

It was at this crossroads that God stepped in once again. He showed me that He doesn’t want our perfection—He wants our hearts. The world promises success, wealth, and happiness, but it never delivers lasting peace. Only God can provide the freedom and fulfillment we truly crave.

The Truth: Matthew 6:24-34

The pursuit of worldly success leads to anxiety, emotional confusion, and spiritual emptiness. It causes burnout, self-sabotage, depression, anger, and hopelessness. Here’s what this mindset does:

1. It minimizes our view of God (Matthew 6:24-29).
2. It distorts how we believe God sees us (Matthew 6:26,30).
3. It makes false promises that never satisfy (Matthew 6:27,34).

How to Overcome

The solution lies in surrendering to the truth of God’s Word:

• Psalm 34 offers guidance on how to find true peace and contentment.

Here’s what we must do:

• Fear God.
• Take refuge in Him.
• Speak no evil.
• Seek and pursue peace.

And here’s who God is:

• He sees.
• He is good.
• He hears.
• He is against evil.
• He is near to the broken-hearted.
• He saves and redeems.

God promises protection, contentment, deliverance from affliction, and freedom from condemnation.

What You Can Do to Find True Happiness

To break free from the pressures of society and find real fulfillment, you need to:

• Be honest with yourself and with God.
• Admit that you cannot do it on your own.
• Confess your sins and recognize that Jesus Christ died and rose again to free you from bondage.
• Cut out the evil in your life, lean into God’s promises, and pursue a truly meaningful and fulfilling life.

Happiness, peace, and freedom come not from chasing worldly success, but from surrendering to God’s will and allowing Him to guide your path. The journey may not be easy, but it will be worth it.