We all know people who are always down in the mouth, negative, critical and marinating in venom. It seems they're always griping about something.
Life isn't always easy, kind or fair but HAPPINESS is a disposition we choose. We choose to be HAPPY WHEREVER we are and in WHATEVER we're doing.
I've found in my own life, if I'm FOCUSED on what God has called me to do, I won't have any extra ENERGY meddling in the lives of others. Some people aren't happy with themselves, therefore they consume their time discrediting others. If they were truly content where they were and in their own assignment they would be so focused on what they're doing for Jesus they wouldn't have time to be discontent with themselves or others.
Solomon says, "a crushed spirit dries up the bones." When I read this passage it reminds me of the 2009 movie "UP" where Carl Fredricksen stops living due to the death of his wife. He goes into hiding, whittling away his days until he can no longer escape the changing world around him.
In a lot of ways, we're like Carl. We will all be disappointed by something. In fact, there's not a day that goes by that you won't eventually be disappointed. Perhaps it's a lack of employment, a sour relationship, financial hardship, etc. We are all going to face disappointment...however THROUGH JESUS there is HOPE!
People may fail us...but Jesus never will. Our hearts will only ever be satisfied by God's perfect, selfless love. God knew we could never experience His love while sin was separating us, so He sent Jesus to earth to pay for our sin and created a way for us to enjoy relationship with Him.
KNOWING Jesus and EXPERIENCING His love brings LASTING FULFILLMENT, JOY and PEACE! It's the PERFECT LOVE of God that holds us steady and reminds us of God's ALL-POWERFUL and ALL-KNOWING power that always has our best in mind!
God will never LEAVE us or ABANDON us! Knowing this...enables me to approach each day with confidence because HIS LOVE NEVER FAILS!
When we understand God's CHARACTER and TRUST Him with our lives, we find that we can experience JOY and THANKSGIVING even in the toughest of times! Our circumstances are not always easy, but our RESPONSE to those circumstances is marked by the INNER JOY that comes from knowing JESUS!
Like good medicine, JOY heals the soul!
Today, go ahead and LAUGH! Jesus is your JOY!
