I'll be happy when I get that promotion.
I’ll be happy when the kids are grown and gone.
I’ll be happy when I lose twenty more pounds.
I’ll be happy when my spouse stops drinking so much.
I’ll be happy when… The list could go on and on, and we find that our happiness is dependent on our happenings.
But once that thing happens, we start all over again…searching, seeking that ever elusive butterfly… chasing that superficial emotion called happy. We go wrong by thinking of happiness as the destination that we must arrive at, instead of the decision we embrace during the journey. If we choose to be happy no matter what is happening, we begin to experience true joy. God, in His infinite wisdom created us in such a way that we will never experience true joy until we are united with Him in obedience to His will and His Word! How awesome is that?
Consider this: After returning, and rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, the Israelites still lacked a connection with God; they needed to hear His Word and obey it. So as they listened to the law and began to understand it, the people were convicted and began to repent…Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength (see Nehemiah 8:9-10). Our happiness is connected to our relationship with God, not with situations and circumstances.
So be happy right now that you have a job, be happy right now that the children are growing into productive young adults. Be happy right now that there are twenty pounds to lose and not two hundred… Be happy right now that there are programs to help families with alcoholism and addiction. If we are happy by default, we witness to the world true joy in action!
Prayer: Thank you God for giving us a direct connection with you, for giving us joy in the form of Christ Jesus. Forgive us for trying to fill that void with sinful and worldly things. Help us to see that happiness is a choice that we can make each day, and help us to choose wisely. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Remember that the book of Psalms is filled with joyful praise. Check out a few: 19:8, 20:5, 27:6, 30:5 30:11, 45:7
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