HAPPY FAITH
A couple of days ago I heard someone say, when is it my turn to be happy? Everyone wants to be happy. Not many are very good at it. Sometimes we attribute our lack of Happiness to others. We hold them accountable for what is missing in our lives. In fact, no one else can make us unhappy. Sure, others can help make us feel good or bad for a while. But fundamental unhappiness is not in the hands of others to give or withhold from us. Even the best person is too feeble a foundation upon which to build our happiness.
There is an old hymn that says it well.
Trust and Obey,
There is no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey.
Religion, like virtually every other aspect of Our Lives, can be a miserable business. Guilt-ridden, Duty driven, fear infested. Happiness comes for Christians when we trust that, despite the way it might appear at times, God is doing something wonderful in the world and in the end we will experienced harmonious completion.
When we obey God, our trust takes on life and it moves us indirections of fulfillment. As we grow closer to God, despite inevitable disappointments common to all humankind, we will find happiness.
Sometimes we need to remind each other of this truth. We can focus on our we can lose our God word focus and become distracted by the downside of life. And there is considerable downside. Nevertheless we need to remember the words that the psalmist offers, “O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in God” (Psalms 34:8).
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Craig