PRAYER PROMPT ••• On Instagram, I follow a page called “History Photographed.”
They posted a picture of Heath Ledger with a quote caption that said, “Everyone you meet always asks if you have a career, are married or own a house as if life was some kind of grocery list. But nobody ever asks if you are happy.”
It was an interesting observation.
Our country is obsessed with personal happiness.
That’s not a bad thing, it’s just a little misguided in the approach.
We tend to think it’s owed to us.
Literally.
By the law.
However, our Constitution doesn’t promise happiness.
It simply says we have the right to pursue it.
So why do we think it is owed to us?
Why do we think it’s going to be found in “things?”
Why do we put extraordinary pressure on people, expecting them to fuel our happiness?
What is happiness?
And is it owed to us?
Being happy is a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction.
Of course we want to be happy.
Who wouldn’t?
(Though I am convinced there are those who are happiest when they are miserable. That’s a different topic though.)
Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.” (John 16:33b).
That doesn’t give us a super warm and fuzzy feeling in terms of happiness.
But let’s look at the whole verse (that was the middle part).
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Peace in Jesus.
He has overcome the world.
There is our perfect source for happiness.
He’s the only one we can truly count on for lasting happiness because as God in the flesh, Jesus is the only one who will never let us down.
He is the one true, forever source for happiness.
So is happiness owed to you?
Absolutely not.
We are sinners and do not deserve all that Jesus has offered.
Yet, He gives it to us anyway (Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:8-9).
Happiness by the world’s standards is temporary.
But the joyful happiness we have in Christ is forever.
Today, as you pray, thank Jesus for being the source of happiness and for giving it though we don’t deserve it.
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you opportunities that will enable others to see happiness through Jesus.
One Response
Yes, a thousand times! And you know, this brings so much comfort, Denise! If we expect and think we are owed happiness, we will be deeply disappointed. But if we see our lives as an opportunity to love others as Christ loved, we actually find joy despite whatever unhappy circumstances might come our way. Thank you so much for reminding us of this! Wonderful post… and definitely prompts my prayers today! 🙂 <3 <3