Key to Happiness

Key to Happiness

By Erin Lamb

 
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand, Psalm 16:11. 

If they obey and serve Him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment, Job 36:11. 

It seems like everywhere you look people are looking for ways to be happy. Most of the time the happiness is linked to something external. If I had this job, then I would be happy. If I lost weight, then I would be happy. If I looked different, then I would be happy. If I had this person, then I would be happy. If I could get married, then I would be happy. If I could get rid of my spouse, then I would be happy. If I had more money, then I would be happy. If I had all my dreams come true, then I would be happy. If I could only have ….., then I would be happy. Well the Bible tells us something different. The Bibles says that contentment and joy come through obedience to God and by being in His presence. I am not saying that the externals don’t make a difference, they do! I am saying that the externals provide temporary relief to an underlying heart issue.

Have you ever begged God for something, then after you had it for awhile realized it didn’t fulfill you? That’s because God is the only source of lasting joy and happiness. He remains constant and steady when all of life is in chaos. He is the only tried and true, 100 percent guaranteed source of security, life, hope, and enduring love. NOTHING can replace Him. Yes, at first the things we run to, cling to, and beg for provide some fuel for our happy tank. However, once the thrill is gone and our tank is depleted, we find that we are off searching for a new fix. If God is not the ultimate source of our happiness (relationship with Him), then nothing He can give us will truly satisfy. We will cling to what the Bible refers to as empty cisterns. They provide temporary relief. If money solved all the problems in the world we wouldn’t have so many millionaires with messy lives. If being with another person solved all the problems, then we wouldn’t have so many divorces and relational breakups. The truth is, God made us for Him. He is the best thing to ever happen to us. If we are content in Him, then the externals are simply the cherry on the cake. He’s so good that He is the cake and the frosting too.

My prayer for us (me and you) is that we seek His face and not His hand. He gives really good gifts and wants to exceed our expectations in this life as well as eternity. However, He never wants the gifts to replace love for Him. He wants us to give thanks for what we have, even if it seems like a little because somewhere there is someone who is worse off than we are. Giving thanks also leads to happiness because we realize that God does not give us what we deserve which would’ve been wrath and destruction, instead He gave us Himself. He gave us life. He continues to give us love. He wants a deep intimate relationship with us. He wants to be first in our lives. He knows no other person or thing can do for us what He can.

Closing prayer:

“Abba I pray that our happy button would be connected to You, the only source of lasting joy! Only You can complete us, fill us, love us to overflow. Only You can provide lasting happiness. You are the source that never runs dry. You are perfect. Your ways are perfect. May we rest our hearts on Yours. Thanks for all you do and have done. In Jesus mighty name, Amen.”