Are You Happy Every Moment of Every Day? No?? Me neither.

 My mom tells me about a primary care doctor who asked his patients "Are you happy?" all the time. She’ll ask me that, as well. If we really think about it, happiness is fleeting. We can have a good day, then get a bill in the mail we weren’t expecting. It can be absolutely beautiful outside, then it starts raining even though the weather radar shows nothing.

Sometimes, we want the people in our lives to make us happy, but we shouldn’t put that pressure on them. People, even with the best intentions, can fail us, whether on purpose or by accident. 

I know what you’re thinking, “Bearden, what’s the deal with the doom and gloom?” 

I’ve been stressing over what to write, and nothing has clicked. Until this evening, a song came over Spotify while I was in the shower. The singer, Forrest Frank, has a song, “Ups & Downs.”  (I’ll share the link at the bottom.)

 Life is a rollercoaster with ups and downs, twists and turns. If we rely on our happiness to see us through, we will be in a constant state of despair. Life is not a flat road without potholes. There are times I feel like the hamster on the wheel, just going, and going, and going, no end in sight.

Forrest Frank’s song reminds us that God is with us during the good and bad, the ups and downs. My question to you is, “How do you know HE’s there?”

We can’t  feel HIM in the busyness of our lives. We can’t see HIM in the chaos of Facebook, Twitter, or SnapChat. We can’t hear HIM in the loud music we listen to  in order to keep the silence at bay. You may disagree with me and that’s ok, but let me explain. 

We try to stay busy to keep from feeling sad. If I work myself to exhaustion, then I’ll fall asleep quickly and not overthink on all the things going wrong in my life. If I stay scrolling over social media, I say I'm just keeping up with what's going on in the lives of my friends and family, as well as finding recipes. But, in reality, social media keeps me from reflecting on what’s not happening right in my life or reflecting on what GOD is trying to tell and teach me. If I keep music playing loud, even if it’s worship music, I won’t be able to hear GOD’s message to me in what HE is planning for me, especially if I don’t want to do it (aka Jonah syndrome).

GOD is there, but we’re ignoring HIM  through our busy, chaotic, and loud lives. We’re looking for happiness in the wrong things. We need to change our goal from happiness to joy.

We can find joy with GOD in the silence. We can find joy with GOD in HIS WORD. We can find joy with GOD beside us when we finally get still enough to feel HIM.

Psalm 6:11 "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope"

 Am I happy all the time? No. There are too many difficulties, worries, sadness, illness to name which affect my happiness. I cannot rely on happiness to see me through the day, night, weeks, months...

Am I joyful? Yes. I know that no matter what is going on in my life, GOD is there. He’s keeping the Evil One away. GOD is showing me how to overcome the unhappy times, how to use the difficulties as a mission and a testimony, how to find joy in the small things.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

Joy will not be found if we focus on ourselves. Joy will not be found through alcohol, drugs, or money. Joy will not be found if we are trying to work our way into heaven, into God's graces. 

Joy will be found in the arms of Christ.  

John 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

I pray today is full of GOD's unbounding joy in your life. 

Thanks for reading.

PB

Forrest Frank “Ups & Downs” https://youtu.be/zncsoGG8Jy4?si=qwqtfVlI8D2Zswnr


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