07/27/2021
Sadness and happiness can dictate how we feel and move through life, both physically and spiritually. Our approach to the throne of God when we are happy, and feeling loved, is one of celebration and joy, but if we are distraught, and made sad by our sinfulness… not feeling loved by God, or loving Him as we should, then we hang our head, and find ourselves reluctant to come into His presence. How do we recognize this, and overcome it?
“A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.”
Proverbs 15:13 ESV
Sometimes life crushes us physically and we find ourselves dealing with such things as sickness, brokenness, mourning, heartbreak, or any number of very real life events that snuff out the happiness in our lives. However, at other times our sadness is completely rooted in something even more disruptive and diabolical; we feel a separation from God, the distance that sin has brought to us, a nakedness of Spirit when giving into temptation causes us to hide ourselves, and when these things happen we lose the joy of God, and in this way our daily happiness is also trampled down.
The physical suffering that destroys our happiness comes and goes. We might even learn to deal with it if it is a permanent ailment, and when we learn to do this our worship returns, and our spirit rejoices. In this way the happiness in our life is restored to us. Jesus tells His disciples about physical sadness when He is speaking of His own death…
“So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
John 16:22 ESV
We can often control how we confront the physical sadness that attacks us. We can seek help from our friends in identifying its root cause, rebuild destroyed homes, allow time to heal our mourning, overcome our sense of loss, or maybe even learn to love again. There are many self-help remedies, but when our sadness threatens to crush the spirit within us there is only one certain cure… to lean on the Lord. When God restores us He not only treats our physical suffering, but brings happiness, and His incredible joy back to us.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”
Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV
When our spirit suffers separation from God, and our happiness is trampled under the feet of temptation and sin there is only one solution for it, and that is the forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ. When our relationship with the Lord is restored our grief subsides, and our strength returns. We find ourselves filled with joy, and happiness, and this occurs because our relationship with God has been made right. The Old Testament speaks to this…
“Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.””
Nehemiah 8:10 ESV
And so does the New Testament…
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
James 1:2-3 ESV
So no matter whether our source of sadness appears to be a physical one, or purely spiritual, we should seek relief in prayer, contrition, and by retuning to God in love and faith. He helps us in our physical and spiritual efforts alike, and is the sole source of all joy and happiness in our lives.
“Happy is that people, that is in such a case: Yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.”
Psalm 144:15 KJV
God provides us with all things, and although we think that the source of our unhappiness is purely a worldly one, it is not. The unhappiness in all things is as a result of our doubt in God’s provision, our lack of belief in His ability to heal, and our shortsightedness in seeing the good that is yet to come.
Are you happy today? No? Well look towards God, and ask Him to mercifully restore your joy… and your happiness!
Prayer:
Father, thank you for all the happiness that you bring us, and the joy we experience in you every day. Thank you for the tremendous happiness that awaits us on the far side of every sorrow, and the cheer we find in each wonder and blessing that you bring into our lives. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is the source of all joy, and the creator of every happy moment we experience. Praised be your name as we face hardship or suffering, and give us the foresight to see you waiting to restore our joy, and cheer us up, as we lean on you in those moments. Help us to see as truth that no sorrow lasts beyond our contrition, and your forgiveness. No suffering is for more than the season you have allotted it. Give us your strength Lord, and mercifully lift us above all the ill effects that sadness brings to us. Heal the worldly effects that our lack of joy and happiness, and restore the spiritual joy and happiness that only you can raise up in us within us. Abide in us, and heal the depression, sorrow, sadness, and every sickness, or cause for separation that we might encounter. Lift up our spirits, and raise our voices in cheerful song…
“This is the day which the LORD hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24 KJV
Rich Forbes