Lie: I’d be happy if I just had _________
Truth: My joy comes from knowing God
Scripture: Philippians 4:11 “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
Happiness is a fleeting thing, it comes and goes. I remember when I used to say “I’d be happy if this or that was different”. In fact looking back I remember a time when I settled for not being happy. I had given up on being happy. Joy was nowhere to be found. What was joy anyway? I had no idea. I had given up on ever being truly happy. I certainly wasn’t content. Sure, I had passing moments of happiness but nothing that endured for very long.
Can I now say I’d be happy if my past was different? No! Something happened that turned my sadness and brokenness into joy. Something happened that turned my heartaches into contentment. That would take a miracle you may think. Yes – a miracle is what was needed. That miracle happened when I realized that without God there was no hope for me. That miracle happened when one day 32 years ago, after a series of events, I cried out to Jesus and said “Please help me, I can’t live like this. I am far from you. I don’t know if you can help me or even if you are there or even if you want to help me. I give you my life Jesus – do whatever you want with it”. I found out that God was there! He did love me! He did want me!
No, I don’t ever wish my past away. It is part of who I am and what God has made of my life today.
Have I had heartaches since that day 32 years ago? Yes! Have I been tempted to say “I’d be happy, or more precisely happier, if I just had______”. Yes! But I now have a deep inner joy that remains whatever the circumstances – the joy that comes from knowing God. Now I know to reject the lie that Satan attempts to snare me with that would rob me of contentment.
must remember this verse...of course I read it many times before...I think this blog will be good for me...bless you...
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