In the News
Does Where You live Make You Happy?
The 13th Annual World Happiness Report came out last week with the 2025’s ranking of the world’s happiest countries. Who do you think won first place and how do you think Israel ranked?
The criterion for this survey is based on six factors: First, the GDP that is the pulse of the economy, the prices of goods, the salaries, etc. With this, they consider the social support from the government, like health care, and old-age facilities. Other markers which set the level of their happiness are healthy life expectancy, freedom of expression, generosity and lack of corruption. So, which is the happiest country to live in, in 2025? Finland and this first-place position has belonged to her for the last 8 years.
How interesting, because Finland is known to have the second highest taxes in the world; something like 57%. Here’s the thing. They trust their government to provide great social welfare systems that include free medical health care and even free tuition to university. It means a lot, doesn’t it, when we can trust a government!
So how did Canada rank? She was in 15th place, up from the 18th spot in 2024. The US is in 24th spot, down from their 2024 ranking of 20th place. So, perhaps it is not wonder why President Trump wants to make us the 51st state.
But now, where do you think Israel ranked? Let us not forget, that this country was at war throughout all of 2024 and so far the whole of 2025. She is fighting on up to 7 fronts, even within the country itself. She is also spending so much money for defense. It is estimated that these recent wars cost the country 67 billion dollars US. So how did she rank? She is in 8th place. That is very surprising but because there is such a strong social and national connection between the people and because of the strong family values, along with a 4000-year history of survival behind them, it makes Israelis resilient people who know how to cope with trauma. And much more than all these criteria, they have a most powerful weapon with them, a presence which undergirds them to overcome this hated and persecution. It is God who proves through the Scriptures, and through history how He has and continues today to protect the land and His people.
Yes, there are wars and there will be wars as prophecies foretell, but He is there and believers in Yeshua going to Israel and walking its street feel His presence and protection over this fragile country. And this is great news for believers, for if He blesses Israel, so He blesses the life of the one who made Yeshua his or her personal Savior. Have you felt God working in your life these days? He is and seeing how He moves in the Scriptures and in history, He wants to bless us so much more.
In the New
Click here for the Video: The Happiest Country in the World