Personal Happiness...

I have been thinking on this topic for some time, and I decided to do some research to see if my suspicions were true. After looking intently for verses that relate to God promising us a "happy" life, I have come to one clear conclusion: no such promise was ever made.

We were promised blessings, and eternal life, if we walk in faithfulness to His word and commands. But the key is that we do not know when those blessings will come; all of that is on His timeline. And it is not our place to be prideful and demand it of Him, either. We must be patient, faithful and remain in prayer giving thanks in every circumstance. (1 Thess 5:18)

The world we live in wants us to chase after happiness, and tells us that if we are unhappy then we should change things up. Get a new job, a new home, a new spouse, an alternative lifestyle, etc. But let me pose a query for us all today... were our grandparents happier than we are, and was there world better than ours is, morally? The answer is an unequivocal YES THEY WERE, along with YES IT WAS!

The Bible speaks quite plainly to the fact that things are GOING TO BE DIFFICULT, and that we must be prepared to face trials. Christian believers were NEVER CALLED to live a life of luxury and comfort, but one of strife at the hands of the worldly oppressors. And make no mistake, things are going to get worse before they get better for those of us who do not fear speaking our beliefs aloud. We must take up our individual cross and bear it daily and proudly, never forsaking the One who did not forsake us! (Luke 14:27)

This is also a prevalent problem in our culture with respect to marriages. The divorce rate is climbing, somewhere around 50% now, and the majority of it stems from needs for "personal happiness." What happened to personal accountability? What happened to personal responsibility? What happened to just keeping a simple promise?

I beg you today to thank God for the patience and faithfulness He has bestowed upon you to see things through to the end. It has been said that people like our grandparents just aren't around anymore, but the conservative rise in America proves otherwise. Times will get tough; things will not always be rosy; and arguments will happen; "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor 15:57)

God bless you all!!!