How can we have the joy the Bible talks about when we
feel unhappy? BY:
Annette LaPlaca
Being happy doesn't
require us to turn a blind eye to troubles such as crime and natural disasters.
Neither does it mean we chant shallow platitudes such as "Don't worry, be
happy." Like most attributes we long for (peace, patience, goodness), a
happy heart takes root in the discipline of giving thanks. It's the secret
weapon of the joyous Christian.
Happy in the Lord
The Old Testament is
loaded with verses that instruct God's people to "remember" his
goodness, such as 1 Samuel 12:24: "Be sure to fear the Lord
and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has
done for you."
Whenever I struggle to
feel joyful, I choose to reflect on how God always meets my needs. Time after
time, I've seen God put forgiving love in me right where angry resentment had been
half an hour before, simply because I asked him to.
As my relationship
with God grows, my love for him becomes more deeply entwined with my gratitude
to him. The more I remember his goodness, the closer I feel to his comfort,
peace, and presence.
Surefire Strategies
If developing an
"attitude of gratitude" is difficult for you, take heart! You'll be
surprised how a little bit of discipline goes a long way toward giving you a
joyful spirit. Try these action steps:
1.
Start a joy journal. Keep
a small notebook by your bed, just for jotting down a few good things God's
done for you that day. This doesn't take long—especially if you use one or two
key reminder words. At the beginning, or on a day when your heart's heavy, this
may take some work. But even on those days, try to come up with three items,
minimum. It may help to look back over the other days' entries to spark
thoughts of God's faithfulness to you. As your thankfulness "skill"
develops, this exercise becomes a pleasure.
2.
Find something to be thankful for, no matter the circumstances. In every situation, there is something to be
thankful for, if only you look for it (1 Thessalonians 5:18). My former coworker
really seemed to loathe working in our office. Day after day, her list of
verbal gripes grew longer, which didn't do much for my morale. Finally, I
suggested she list what she did like about
her job. The next day she surprised me by showing me her list. She admitted
she'd been so busy focusing on her grievances, she'd forgotten to notice the
good things in the office.
For years I assigned
myself the annual task of making a list of "100 things to be thankful
for." I typically find the first 20-30 easy to come up with, then get
bogged down in the middle. But all of a sudden I find myself remembering little
things that have built my trust and confidence in God. I always manage to come up with 100. Give it a try
All-or-nothing
thinking is common when you feel discouraged, but don't fall into that trap.
There usually are a few times, at least, when things go right. So look for the
silver lining.
3.
Say "thank you" before "please." When it comes to prayer, don't jump
directly into your list of wants and needs, no matter how pressing those may
seem. God loves to hear us appreciate him. Start by praying the way Jesus
taught his disciples in Matthew 6:9-13, by honoring God
("Hallowed be your name"). Your praise will naturally include
thankfulness for his faithful love, the daily help of his Holy Spirit, and his
provision for you.
4.
Try a Scripture search. Remind
yourself of the importance of rejoicing by searching the Bible—both Old and New
Testaments—for God's instructions in this area. It will spur you on to
"consider what great things [God] has done for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18reminds us it's God's
will that we be "joyful always" and "give thanks in all circumstances."
5.
Just ask. When you
struggle to obey God in the area of giving thanks, don't hesitate to ask him to
show you how. He's longing to draw you close, to give you strength for the
challenges of every day. So ask for his help. God wants us to have a happy
heart as much as we long to be joyful. It's not all up to us; God's there,
waiting to give us joy.
Copyright
© 2000 by the author or Christianity Today/Today's Christian Woman magazine.
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