Happiness
is a fleeting emotion, easily interrupted by negative thoughts, words and
actions. Humans can experience the switch between the heights of euphoria and
the depths of depression in a matter of seconds.
When
we seek happiness in circumstance, people, events, pets, career, home, gardens,
hobbies, church, etc. we are continually elated and then disappointed.
In
disappointment, we even give in to fear, anxiety and feel apprehensive when we
consider more than the one moment of time which we are experiencing.
Fear
will dispel happiness quicker and put us into a deeper depression than any
other emotion, especially if we suppress the anger, which we feel along with
it.
We
have the right to pursue happiness, but we cannot maintain it. There is good
news in the midst of this negative prognosis, however.
We
can continually dwell in an emotion much deeper than happiness. This emotion is
not contingent on circumstance and is spiritual and depends solely on the
presence of God in our life.
This
deep seated emotion is also our strength to traverse the negative path in life,
which we occasionally experience. There is no earthly issue, which can ever
shake us from this positive outlook on life. It is called JOY.
If we choose to focus on the negative circumstances,
or if we adopt a negative attitude, our joy will hover just outside of our
soul, waiting in our spirit for us to change our focus to the joy, which is
always set before us (Hebrews 12:2).
The world-wide Body of Christ, both in times
present and past, is an example of a people who love and joyfully trust our
amazing God for His constant provision, even during dire circumstances.
Prayer:
Father God, You reach down Your arms and hold us
until our grief and fears are gone (Psalm 68:5). You walk within us and guide
us through the depths of grief, distress and insecurity. Regardless of the
negative circumstances, Your peace and joy are our constant companions.
You love each of us the same amount and in the
same way, regardless of our sinful past. We are confident of Your continual, unconditional
love for us (John 3:16-17). We can never thank You enough for continually
filling us with Your presence and Spirit, and for helping us to maintain a
heavenly mindset rather than a carnal, earthly one.
Thought for the Day:
Our constant joy depends on our focus on the
eternal Christ and our attitude of total dependence on His perfect will for our
life.
