What is the secret to happiness? If you asked this to a room full of people, you would probably get a different answer from everyone. There are many things in this world that can make you happy.
As adults, we have grown accustomed to manufactured happiness. If you just had the perfect, well-behaved kids like everyone else you could have a good meal eating out. If you had a better car maybe they wouldn’t see you as someone to be pitied. Perhaps if you had a different job you would be viewed with more esteem. If you could only have more money you wouldn’t have to worry about where you spend it.
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence. You too can have green grass if you water it. True happiness isn’t found in living a picture-perfect life. It is found when you humble yourself and lean into God’s plan instead of your own.
Hope is found there too. When you put your hope in Him instead of in material, fleeting things, something amazing happens. You find yourself living humbly and trusting God for what you need. Worry, fear, anxiety, depression are all products of comparing your life to those around you.
Nothing good ever comes from comparison. It is the thief of joy and peace. The Bible says in Psalm 37:11 that the lowly, or humble, will possess the land God is giving to them and not only that, they will live in peace and prosperity. But it gets better!
Zephaniah 3:12 says it is the lowly, the humble, who trust the name of the Lord. In Job 5:11, He sets the lowly on high. In Proverbs 29:23, it is said a lowly, humble, spirit brings honor; He (Jesus) came to be lowly among us.
There is so much evidence that it is the humble, lowly, people who trust in the Lord that are raised in high esteem by God. He is not into the manufactured happiness the world offers and you shouldn’t be concerned with it either.
So what is the secret to happiness? Living a humble life, relying on Him to supply what you need. Happiness that lasts can’t be found in anyone or anything around you. Seek Him above all else and and your humility will be greeted with His love, grace, peace, hope, mercy, and understanding.
Where have you been seeking happiness these days? Is it enough to sustain the feeling?
