The mistaken notion obtains among most people, that happiness and success must be sought for. The truth is, that they are the free gift of God, and cannot be obtained in any other way than from the hand of God. Whoever seeks for them will invariably miss them. On the other hand, they are seeking us. The psalmist said, "Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." (Psalm 23:6)
The Hebrew word here rendered, "follow" is, literally, pursue, run after. Goodness and mercy are, at the command of God, pursuing His people. In line with this are the words of Moses when he rehearsed the law of God to Israel: "If you shall diligently hearken unto the voice of the Lord your God, to observe and to do all of His commandments, ... All these blessings shall come on you, and overtake you." (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)
If we seek for happiness we shall never find it, because that is selfishness; and selfishness is opposed to the commandment of God. But happiness is hunting for us, and will quickly overtake us if we do not run away from it, for: "His word runs very swiftly." (Psalm 147:15)--Present Truth, December 4, 1902--Psalm 23:6.