Monday July 02, 2018

 

Oh happiness, that elusive state that everyone pursues but few actually find, at least lasting happiness. Psychologists, theologians, professors, and even economists have tried to give us a road map to find happiness but the more they explain it the more elusive it becomes. We look for it in others, we look for it in things, adventures, religion, and we even look for it within. There is a problem however; we live in a corrupt world that is damaged, imperfect, and unjust. What is even more problematic is that we too are damaged, imperfect, and unjust at times. Consequently, pursuing happiness in anyone or anything in this world is always going to lead us down a dead end road; we need a higher power.

 

If happiness cannot be found in this world, where then can we find it? Jesus said, “Happy are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”. You will actually find happiness when you come to the realization that happiness cannot be found in things, others, or within. In order to find happiness, you must first acknowledge God’s existence and understand His character. If you want to understand God’s character all you have to do is look at Jesus. The Bible teaches that no one has ever seen God, but through His son Jesus we learn a lot about His character.

 

There are things that we can learn about God’s character through Jesus:

 

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. – Colossians 1:15 NLT

 

1. God knows your situation. He knows everything about you, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

 

A.  You…have seen the crisis in my soul. (Psalms 31:7 LB)

B. You know how troubled I am; you have kept a record of my tears. (Psalm 57:8 TEV)

C. O God, you know how foolish I am. (Psalms 69:5 NLT)

 

2. God cares about your situation. No matter who you are, where you have been, or what you have done.

A. He’s like a father to us, tender and sympathetic. (Psalm 103:13 LB)

B. He knows what we are made of; he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:14 TEV)

C. “I have loved you with a love that last forever. I have kept on loving you with faithful love.”

          Jeremiah 31:3 (NIRV)

D. God showed his great love for us, by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

         Romans 5:8 NLT

 

3. God can change you and your situation. He makes the impossible possible; what is impossible is always possible for God.

A. ‘O Lord God! See, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your    

    long arm! Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLV)

B. This means that everyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is

    gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

C. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony,  

    stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. (Ezekiel 36:26 NLT)

 

Happiness is found in the choice to plug into a higher power and that higher power’s name is Jesus. You have tried everything this world has to offer, you have even tried seeking it within, now it is time to open your heart and to believe and receive.

 

“Happy are those who mourn, for God will comfort them!” Matthew 5:4 TEV