Colors of Love: Yellow in Happiness

Yellow is a vibrant, eye-catching color. It is often used in contexts that require high visibility, such as construction and safety signs.

One of my elementary school teachers told my class that yellow is the color most readily processed by the brain. That struck me as odd initially because I preferred blue, but eventually it made sense. Yellow is usually the color of choice for highlighting portions of text, after all.

Symbolism of Yellow

Happiness is symbolized by the color yellow. In limerence the emotional highs are like sunny days because we feel so amazingly happy. The future never looked brighter than when we thought those special someones loved us back.

On the other hand, yellow is also associated with cowardice. Pirates and others who engaged in physical combat sometimes referred to those of weaker constitution as “yellow-bellies.” I might have had a somewhat “yellow belly” myself when working up to talking to the one I loved.

Refer to this Color Meanings article for more detail about the meaning and symbolism of yellow. This post will highlight yellow as a color of happiness.

Strides in Happiness

As a preteen and young teen of 13 and 14, I strove to maintain a sunny outlook. If I had focused too much on the disappointments and hardships in my life, probably I rarely would have smiled. Little things like the taste of Skittles being in my mouth (having eaten no Skittles) brought me much-needed momentary happiness.

I tried to take to heart the phrase, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!” Though I disliked lemonade as a kid, the idea of making something good out of bad resonated with me. That’s why I clung so tightly to the verse Romans 8:28. “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”

My aching 12-year-old heart needed to hear that. Two to three years after my parents’ divorce, I was feeling sad and near empty. My best friend did not love me back and I had not found a suitable replacement for him. That verse filled my heart with hope for happiness in the future.

Sometimes it takes simply seeing things from another person’s perspective to begin to understand the truth. In that moment, the perspective I heard was that of an older, wiser, more mature Christian. Proverbs 1:5 says, “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” Especially when you are feeling sad, advice is best taken from those who have experienced God’s deliverance personally. They know the happiness of restored joy and fulfilled hope by God’s faithful hand.

Color of the Sun

In nature the color yellow is found prominently in the sun and the flowers named after the sun. The sun is very luminous and one of the most plentiful sources of energy we have on earth. Though the sun emits white light, our atmosphere disperses it, making the light look slightly yellow. Because of this, we often see the sun and its rays colored yellow in artwork. Sometimes the stars that are farther away from the earth and visible only at night are also shown in yellow.

Comparing it against other created bodies, it is understandable that some who did not know God worshipped the sun. Humans, animals and plants alike need the sun for both light and life. It keeps us warm, enables us to see what we are doing and where we are going. The light is so bright, we cannot look at it without having to close our eyes again.

The Son Lights the Way

Jesus, the beloved Son of God, is even greater and more life-giving. As bright as the sun is, the glory of Jesus is brighter. It is difficult for me to fathom that the sun is probably a mere shadow of His glory. I surmise this based on the story of Moses’ face shining after being with God on the mountain (Exodus 34:29-35).

This is why we will not need the sun to give us light in Heaven. All we will need to see around us is the brightness from the Creator. No variation of yellow in a work painted by the most talented artist could do justice to that brightness. And no amount of darkness can ever stand up to it. (John 1:5)

I like to ask God to “light and pave the way” in my morning prayer. He always makes a way to accomplish everything He calls us to do. Not only that, but He shines a light on the path we are to take to make it clear exactly what to do next. In John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

In life on earth and in Heaven, Jesus is our source of light, life and everlasting happiness. (John 1:4) “Happy are they whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 144:15)

Happy and Blessed

I am happy, I rejoice, because God has rescued me from the penalty of sin and freed me from limerence! In the agony or anxiety you may be experiencing, you can rest and find happiness too (Philippians 4:6-7). True freedom, healing and peace are possible in Jesus, because He is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). His promise to walk with you and help you will be fulfilled every day (Philippians 1:6).

A certain hymn comes to mind called “Blessed Assurance.” This hymn reminds us we are so loved, we were purchased and adopted by God as His children. (1 Peter 1:18-19) I always loved it because of the chorus. “This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.” Reflecting on my life story and singing songs from my heart were always powerful to me. In the verses, though, the hymn carries rich theology.

Verse 2 speaks of angels coming down, echoing His mercy and whispering of His love. In verse 3 we see the title of this section, for in our Savior we are “happy and blessed!” Even if our lives are currently being tossed and torn by damaging storms, He brings calm. We are not lost in the storm – we are “filled with His goodness and lost in His love.” Lost in a good way, like we might get lost in our limerence object’s eyes. And as we know, the Lord’s love is better than their eyes or any other favorite feature of theirs. His love is even better than life (Psalm 63:3).

Easter: He Is Risen!

On this Easter Sunday, I am wholeheartedly joyful to proclaim, “He is risen!” (Hopefully, you respond, “He is risen indeed!”) This is forever the number one reason we have to be happy. Our suffering in limerence may cast shadows on our lives, but the light of the Son is always with us. He humbled Himself by being born as a man and overcame death in the full power of His deity. (Philippians 2:6-11)

Letting go of our limerence objects may well feel like killing a piece of ourselves. However, in doing so we open the door for Jesus to give us life. John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”

How amazing this is, and rightly good news that is passed down from generation to generation! The heavy weight of our own suffering is nothing compared to what He has done for us. So let us celebrate! Let us embrace the happiness He has offered to us. And let us hold fast to the Word of Life, reflecting His light and spreading His happiness wherever we go. (Philippians 2:15-16)

This post is part of the 2023 Colors of Love series. Other posts in the series cover orange, red, gray, white, black, purple, green and blue.