In a world that seems to wholesale sorrow, it is quite exciting to discover that happiness is a choice. The thought of not needing to feel miserable when things are against you could take some getting used to. After all…I thought one of the purposes for disappointment was supposed to be unhappiness.
After reading our text, I discovered that happiness and unhappiness were reactions of one’s own choosing and had nothing to do with the problem. Wow! I need to think about that for a moment. That may take the false satisfaction out of getting upset and feeling sorry for yourself, or at least blaming someone else for your problem.
The only thing that unhappiness reveals is that one has chosen to disobey God…because according to this scripture happiness is the result of obeying God.
I must admit that almost everything I have learned about happiness came from my wife Karen. She goes to bed happy and wakes up happy. She quickly forgives others and moves on as if nothing ever happened. She is a true servant of all and lives a life of prayer.
I often find myself struggling with things that Karen seems to take in stride. I wonder how she does it. I think to myself, “This is ridiculous; nobody is supposed to be that happy—even Jesus seemed angered occasionally.”
Thank God that when I am struggling through things Jesus and sweet Karen are patiently guiding me to a higher life in the spirit by teaching me that happiness is my choice.
While meditating on this subject I think I discovered that my interpretation of happiness has been wrong. I associated unhappiness with being wronged or are least because of a disappointment. The fact is, one has nothing to do with the other.
It is impossible to live life and never be disappointed or upset…but that alone is not grounds for unhappiness.
Perhaps when the Bible said in Ephesians 4:26, be ye angry, and sin not, what it was saying was that anger does not have to be sin, but choosing to be unhappy is sin because it shows a lack of faith in God. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please God.” That means that if you are not pleasing God, then you are sinning. Wow! This gives a whole new meaning to being unhappy.
Continually choosing to be unhappy because of circumstances will eventually open the door for a spirit of sorrow. The spirit of sorrow is recognizable. Strange as it might seem, I have seen this spirit on dogs, cats and even birds. One time I even saw it on a bull. The spirit of sorrow was on Hannah when it said in 1 Samuel 1:15 “And Hannah answered and said, ‘No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.’”
Perhaps there are many who are reading this Meditation right now who feel that true happiness has eluded them, without realizing that happiness is their choice. Favorable circumstances do not create happiness, it only confirms it.
This may be a good time to sit a spell and think about the things you have control over. You may or may not have control over things that are happening on the outside—but you do have control over things that are happening on the inside. Make the choice to be happy today.
Father,
Help us all to be like Karen and choose to walk a life of happiness by obeying You as our text says. Lord help us to be that light that You talked about that is not hid under a bushel.
Amen
I find my happiness in obeying your commands. (Psalms 119:56 GNB)
Apostle John Dean Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved
Alliance International Ministries