What is your prerequisite for happiness? Have you ever been guilty of making a statement such as: ‘If I get this job, if I make this amount of money, if I get married, if my husband acts right, if my children act right, if the dog doesn’t bark…THEN I will be happy?’ The list could go on and on if we allow it to. However, when we put these conditions on our happiness, chances are we will never be happy.
First of all, by waiting for external conditions to change, we are putting our hope in things that are beyond our control – employers may not hire, the proposal didn’t come, spouse and kids may not do what you want them to do, and maybe you shouldn’t even have a dog if you don’t like the barking. Happiness must start and grow on the inside, where Christ dwells in us.
Happiness is to remove the power of these external influences on your emotions and place your trust in the Lord. There are things I want that I do not currently have. There are moments where I wish for them. But I do not despair. In the moments where I begin to feel discouraged, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter is there showing me that as long as I have the Lord, my life is full and there is nothing lacking.
Happiness is knowing God and being His child. Happiness is knowing that the source of what you need is not found in the hands of man but in the heart of God. Happiness is having a friend in Jesus, who sticks closer than a brother. Happiness is knowing that even the darkest situations will be turned around for your good as you trust in Him. Happiness is knowing that God has a plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11)!
Focus on the goodness of God. Let go of the wish list today and simply be happy! When the desires of your heart begin to roll in, they will be like icing on the cake!
Psalm 37:3-5 (Amplified Bible)
Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass.
