Happier

Happier – Marshmello

Main Point: As we learn to embrace the challenges in our lives we will see that through Jesus, the sacrifices made in the hard times help produce better days ahead.

About the Artist – Marshmello

In 2015, Christopher Comstock started releasing electronic mix songs under the name Marshmello. Comstock was able to keep his identity secret for a couple years before he was unmasked by Forbes magazine in 2017. Using a white bucket with a face as both his logo and then his mask, Marshmello has rose to fame as one of the world’s highest paid DJ’s. Having released two studio albums, Marshmello has collaborated with artists such as Selena Gomez, Khalid, Bastille (who he collaborated with in the song we are discussing here) and many others.

Song Lyrics: 

Lately, I’ve been, I’ve been thinking
I want you to be happier, I want you to be happier

When the morning comes
When we see what we’ve become
In the cold light of day, we’re a flame in the wind
Not the fire that we’ve begun
Every argument, every word we can’t take back
‘Cause with all that has happened
I think that we both know the way that this story ends

Then only for a minute
I want to change my mind
‘Cause this just don’t feel right to me
I wanna raise your spirits
I want to see you smile but
Know that means I’ll have to leave

Know that means I’ll have to leave
Lately, I’ve been, I’ve been thinking
I want you to be happier, I want you to be happier

When the evening falls
And I’m left there with my thoughts
And the image of you being with someone else
Well, it’s eating me up inside
But we ran our course, we pretended we’re okay
Now if we jump together, at least we can swim
Far away from the wreck we made

Then only for a minute
I want to change my mind
‘Cause this just don’t feel right to me
I wanna raise your spirits
I want to see you smile
Know that means I’ll have to leave

Know that means I’ll have to leave
Lately, I’ve been, I’ve been thinking
I want you to be happier, I want you to be happier

So I’ll go, I’ll go
I will go, go, go
So I’ll go, I’ll go
I will go, go, go

Lately, I’ve been, I’ve been thinking
I want you to be happier, I want you to be happier
Even though I might not like this
I think that you’ll be happier, I want you to be happier

Then only for a minute (Only for a minute)
I want to change my mind
‘Cause this just don’t feel right to me (Right to me)
I wanna raise your spirits (Wanna raise your spirits)
I want to see you smile but
Know that means I’ll have to leave

Know that means I’ll have to leave
Lately, I’ve been, I’ve been thinking
I want you to be happier, I want you to be happier

So I’ll go, I’ll go
I will go, go, go

Introducing the Song – You Say This:   Happier is Marshmello’s highest charting song to date, having reached the three spot on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is about bringing happiness to another person even if it means making a sacrifice that is difficult. Marshmello said about this song, The amount of emotion that you could feel in the lyrics was crazy. As I listened to the song more and more, it reminded me of so many things I’ve been through in life; toxic relationships, letting go of things I didn’t want to, and just situations where happiness came with a sacrifice. Recently, I lost my best friend, my companion, my life-long friend. I wanted this video to embrace the pain that we feel losing or sacrificing something and the cycle of life that comes with it.

The Music Video:  The music video can be viewed for free at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=91&v=COuBopmIYsg

Hand out Lyrics and Play Song

Transition Statement – You Say This:  This song talks about sacrifice and what a person would be willing to do for another to find happiness. The specific sacrifice in the song appears to be leaving the relationship, believing the person might be better off without them. Is it true that making sacrifices in difficult situations can produce better things ahead? Let’s talk about this and see what God’s Word has to say about this question.

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format – a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

1. AROUND THE CIRCLE:You have ten seconds each, in that time tell us three things that make you happy.

2. ASK A FEW: If you were going to wear a disguise like Marshmello does, what would it look like for you?

3. ASK A FEW: When the song says; I wanna raise your spirits, I want to see you smile but know that means I’ll have to leave, do you think the motivation is pure for that decision or do you think he wants her to tell him to stay?

4. ASK A FEW: When is it easy for you to sacrifice something for another?

5. ASK A FEW: What is something your parents have sacrificed so you can have something better?

6. ASK A FEW: Think of a sacrifice you’ve made during a hard season of your life. What happened in your life because of your sacrifice?

7. AROUND THE CIRCLE:What comes to mind when you hear someone say “there are better days ahead?”  Do you usually agree with that statement? Why or why not?

Read the following passage:

Romans 5:3-5
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

8. ASK A FEW:  Read Romans 5:1-5. What is meant by “not only so” at the start of verse three?

9. ASK A FEW:  According to this passage, why can we glory in our sufferings?

10. ASK A FEW:  Talk about a time when you have seen suffering produce perseverance.

11. ASK A FEW:  Why do you think it was important to affirm God’s love in verse five?

12. ASK A FEW:  If we believe these verses and embrace the idea that good things can come through the hardest times – how can knowing that help us make the necessary sacrifices during those hard times?

13. ASK A FEW:  What do we need to do or have to truly believe that the sacrifices we make in the hard times will produce better things ahead?

14. AROUND THE CIRCLE:  Let’s go around the circle and name different things Jesus sacrificed for us so we can have better days ahead.

Wrap Up – You say this:
The song Happier is a fun upbeat song with a powerful message. The idea behind it is that sometimes we need to make sacrifices when things are difficult and through those hardships we will see greater things ahead. For the follower of Jesus this takes on even more meaning as He has set the example by sacrificing His life for you and I. Let’s take a moment and silently thank Jesus for the sacrifices and the ultimate sacrifices He has made for you and I. 

(Pause and give them a quiet moment to reflect on this.) 

God’s love has been poured out on those who will receive it, and through His love you can be confident that He will produce good things through the worst situations. We might have to give up comfort, preferences, relationships or more – but we can be confident that He is good and that He is working in us to produce something greater than we can imagine. Take a moment with Jesus and ask Him to reveal to you if there is a sacrifice He is asking you to make as you trust Him through this season of your life. 

(Pause and give them a moment to pray silently.) 

God wants more for you and I than for us to just be happier – He wants us to have a joy that never fades. Let’s be people who trust Him and refuse to settle for less than His best for us.  And let’s remember that as we learn to embrace the challenges in our lives we will see that through Jesus, the sacrifices made in the hard times help produce better days ahead. 

CLOSE IN PRAYER