What is it that makes you happy?
A big piece of chocolate cake?
A hug from a much loved friend?
A piece of music which makes your toes tap or brings back precious memories?
Your children/parents/spouse/friends/dog?
A sunset or sunrise
Having enough money in the bank to be able to pay the bills
Your favourite film
Being snuggled in bed on a snow day when you should be at work.
It is all a bit...... flimsy ..... isn't it? I mean, there is nothing wrong with any of those things, they are all fine and good and positive. But they are pretty much all about how we feel. And feeling ' good' seems to have become the end goal of most of our lives. We are supposed to feel good about our jobs. Feel satisfied and fulfilled and ' happy'. We are supposed to feel good about ourselves - be healthy and fit and slim and gorgeous. We are supposed to be happy in our relationships - being unhappy is a good excuse to remove ourselves and look for a new relationship.
Jesus had a completely different list of what it is that constitutes happiness
As far as I understand the beatitudes, what this really means is that I can be living in a war zone, have no money, be unwell, have no friends and no happy endings but still be living a blessed life. Being blessed is not the same thing as being happy - although it is often translated as meaning the same thing. Being blessed is a whole heap more than simply feeling happy. It is knowing the favour of almighty God. Having His protection, love, peace and wisdom covering your life. It is having the Word dwelling in you richly and knowing a spring of life gently bubbling up in your spirit all the time, regardless of the circumstances or how you feel about them.
Jesus says that we can be blessed when we are mourning. When we are persecuted. He doesnt expect us to be happy in those situations - that would be perverse. We can be sad, grieving, fearful, angry, but still blessed. It is a mystery isn't it?
The world is missing out when it holds out happiness to people as the be all and end all. It leads to a deeply unsatisfied community of people who are always comparing themselves to unrealistic and unattainable ideals of happiness ( Walt Disney and Hollywood have a lot to answer for!) The reality is that happiness can punctuate our lives and we are deeply grateful when it does. But mere happiness is not what God has for us. He wants to go so much deeper than just fleeting feelings. He wants us to experience JOY. We need to seek blessing rather than happiness ( the two things are by no means mutually exclusive) because it is only when we are living in the presence and favour of God that there is fullness of joy. And the joy of the Lord ( notice it is not our joy but His, nothing to do with our feelings but a spiritual impartation from Him) is our strength.
Relying on and listening to our own feelings is not the answer. The heart is deceitful above all else, and desperately wicked ,who can know it? ( Jer 17.9) So if you are feeling unhappy...... perhaps its time to stop listening to your feelings and start counting your blessings instead. There is a reason why people used to do that you know. It's because it works!
No comments:
Post a Comment