Why Is It So Hard to Be Happy?

By Jen Oshman

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A Concise Look at Happiness from a Christian Perspective 

Happiness feels more elusive than ever. With an endless stream of self-help books and motivational content available at our fingertips, we’re encouraged to look inward for the answers. But all too often, this relentless focus on ourselves only leaves us feeling emptier than when we started. Why does happiness feel so hard to grasp?

In this brief booklet, Jen Oshman examines the history, sociology, and data of happiness from a Christian perspective. She discusses our culture’s competing visions and definitions of happiness, investigates why happiness is so elusive, and offers practical alternatives to the unsatisfactory lies of the world. This booklet invites readers to explore happiness as an outcome of a relationship with our Creator, Jesus Christ. In him there is a treasure waiting to be discovered—a richer, fuller way to live.

  • Countercultural: Provides life-giving and practical alternatives to the unsatisfactory lies the world tells us about how to gain happiness
  • Christian Perspective: Helps both believers and non-believers understand happiness as a byproduct of their relationship with Jesus Christ
  • Short, Accessible Format: A concise biblical exploration of the history, sociology, and data of happiness
  • Part of the TGC Hard Questions Series: Equips readers with answers to difficult questions facing today’s church

Author:

Jen Oshman

Jen Oshman is an author, speaker, church planter’s wife, and mom of four teen and young adult daughters. She has served as a missionary and church planter for over two decades on three continents. She currently resides in Colorado, where she is the director of women’s ministry at Redemption Parker, which her family planted 9 years ago. You can keep in touch with Jen at jenoshman.com

Product Details

Format: Paperback
Page Count: 80
Size: 4.5 in x 6.5 in
Weight: 5.0 ounces
ISBN-13: 979-8-8749-0820-1
ISBN-UPC: 9798874908201
Published: June 23, 2026

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part 1: What Even Is Happiness?
Part 2: Why Is Happiness So Hard to Hold On To?
Part 3: Happiness for the Long Haul

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