Sooo . . .

Happy New Year! Such an enthusiastic well-wish, isn’t it? Usually given in a shout at the immediate passing of midnight on January 1st.

Happiness is often illusive and fleeting, momentary even. People often pursue it as if it’s easily attainable and necessary and as though it should be near constant. They seek after it in purchases, philosophies, and passions. And some insist they’ve found it in things, riches, ideas, and experiences. Enlightenment. Happiness.

How often have you seen people base their “happiness” on a relationship with another person? The prestige and success a job offers them? The praise and adoration of others?

When I was young and unsaved, I determined that real happiness was not easy to come by. It was a rare occurrence that couldn’t be conjured up by the mere hoping it would happen. Even the best of circumstances often left one feeling empty or lacking some intangible that would’ve translated the event into the realm of “happiness”. There was simply no way to manufacture the ethereal feeling.

Many years later now knowing Jesus, I think true happiness is reserved for heaven. We get glimpses for sure, and the pure delight of those moments allows us sufficient anticipation for the never ending kind which will be afforded to us in our various roles of service in heaven.

There is contentment offered here, and we can take it or leave it. We can search and strive for that ghost of happiness or we can rejoice in the Lord’s plans for our lives as we earnestly seek to stay on the path He has designed just for us. Either we believe one exists or we don’t. And, if we do, we can find joy in knowing we have a mission here—our lives have purpose, we have a reason for being here, and our time needn’t be wasted or worthless. Some of us will suffer more than others, some of us will have less than the best in terms of quality possessions, and others of us will often feel inferior in our efforts to serve the Lord, but we can all take solace in the fact that any one of us who has a heart fully yielded to Jesus Christ with an obedient spirit to match will find the joy dispensed from heaven for the perseverance required to serve God. No small deal for sure.

Sooo, I wish you the rewards and riches of heaven often earned by sacrifice, trials, and gut level effort to forge ahead according to a divine blueprint for your life. Jesus loves you, and He will accompany you through it all—the laughs, the tears, the gut-wrenching sorrows, traumas, and triumphs. And He will be there in those hints of happiness and those outbreaks of joy. You can have contentment in Him.

Father, thank you for it all. Words come up short so often, and this is one of those times when I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for my life. You are so generous. So gracious. Thank you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Comments

[dayle]

Well said, Nicole.

We often have to change our defintion of happiness after each happiness goal is achieved.

[Kay]

The pursuit of happiness is a trick of the devil.
But God does promise us joy, which is a deeper, more mellow thing. Based on nothing but Him, in spite of our circumstances, the contenment you refered to..
So, A Joyous and Rewarding New Year to you, Nicole!

[Nicole]

Thank you both. You're precious to me--even if we only know each other via cyberspace. I wish you each The Best God has for you in the Name of Jesus.