happiness.

If someone asked you if you were happy, what would you say?  

If you said yes and then they, in turn, asked you why, what would be your response?  

Happiness is a term, an emotion, that has become perverted.  If you were to ask an American what would make them the happiest they would probably say money, success, or maybe fame and popularity.  But what is real happiness?  IS it money and success, or is it something more than that?  Is it up to us whether we are happy, or does it depend on our circumstances?

Well, I believe that true happiness comes from relying fully on God.  It comes from being content with what you have; it comes from living completely in God's will for your life.  Now, does that mean that there won't be hardships along the way?  No.  That just means that in those times, you have someone that will always be there for you.  He picks you up, dusts you off and then God uses those trials to strengthen you.  I know that is such a cliche thought, but it is so true.  Some of the hardest times in my life have produced my happiest moments.  In Romans 8:28, Paul discusses how all things work together for good, not that all things ARE good.  In the end, happiness manifests itself in the situations and circumstances and the pain, fear, and anxiety slowly diminish into nothing.  God is the reason for happiness.

So, don't allow the American Dream to become the epitome of happiness.  Don't allow happiness to be something that only lasts a few days.  Let happiness be something that you can only find in one place; let it be found in Jesus Christ.            

"Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul."
-Democritus