Jeremiah 29:11 “For I
know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and
not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Are you just letting life slip by? Are you restless and
unsure of how or where you need to go? Are you looking for happiness and can’t
find it? Are you still trying to recover from an event that happened in the
past? Are you looking for happiness or joy or are you deeply depressed?
Happiness is an inner state, it’s a combination of how good
we feel with our current lifestyle and the peace we have, it’s the ability to
enjoy the present moment, being free of negative thoughts, appreciating what is
and truly experiencing it. Happiness is future oriented and it puts all its
eggs in someone else’s basket. It is dependent on outside situations, people,
or events to align with your expectations so that the end result is your
happiness.
We can’t change what’s happened in the past, we can’t
predict what the next moment will bring, and having regrets, being worried,
making plans, having expectations, comparing and overthinking – all these are a
result of us trying to control stuff that can’t be controlled.
But when it comes down to your own happiness, you’re
responsible for your level of satisfaction and joy in life, and no one else.
You’re the only one to blame for the happiness in your life, or the lack of it and
understanding that, admitting it and taking responsibility is the first step.
Now joy on the other hand comes when you make peace with who
you are, where you are, why you are, and who you are not with. When you need
nothing more than your truth and the love of God to bring peace, then you have
settled into the abiding joy that is not rocked by relationships.
The goal of every Christian should not be happiness because
the Bible never promises happiness to the believer but joy, which is a totally
different story. While happiness is
temporary and is based upon happenings, joy is from the Lord and you can still
experience joy during trials, suffering, and testing. Joy is permanent but happiness is fleeting.
James 1:2-3 Consider
it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Trials are of outward circumstances—conflicts, sufferings,
and troubles—encountered by all believers. Trials are not pleasant and may be
extremely grievous, but believers are to consider them...yep, pure joy!
Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus and still
suffer unhappiness? Maybe you’re depressed. God is not silent when we suffer. If
we know anything about God, we know that He comes close to those who suffer, so
keep your eyes open for Him.
Depression feels terrifying. Your world is dark, heavy, and
painful. Physical pain, you think, would be much better—at least the pain would
be localized. Instead, depression seems to go to your very soul, affecting
everything in its path.
Dead, but walking, is one way to describe it. You feel numb.
Perhaps the worst part is that you remember when you actually felt something
and the contrast between then and now makes the pain worse.
Psalm 143:7-8 Answer
me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be
like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your
unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
So many things about your life are difficult right now. Things
you used to take for granted—a good night's sleep, having goals, looking
forward to the future—now seem beyond your reach. Your relationships are also
affected. The people who love you are looking for some emotional response from
you, but you do not have one to give.
When you pray, do you pray for God to help you get through
it or take you away from it? Do you pray that God will take you home or show
you the way to true joy?
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet
inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary
troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is
seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Come to God with your suffering. God seems far away when we
suffer. You believe that He exists, but it seems as if He is too busy with
everything else, or He just doesn't care. After all, God is powerful enough to
end your suffering, but He hasn't. If you start there, you'll reach a dead end
pretty quickly. God hasn't promised to explain everything about what He does
and what He allows.
This doesn't answer the question, why is God doing this to
me? Have you prayed that God will show you the reasons why? Did you expect
someone else to tell you? How do you expect God to answer? Well the only way is
through prayer and reading of His word. Be alert to spiritual warfare.
Depressed people are very vulnerable to Satan's claim that God is not good.
Here are many scriptures that you can start with:
Remember your purpose for living. Matthew22:37-39, 1Corinthians 6:20, 2Corinthians 5:15, Galatians5:6.
Go here to read more about this. Depression:God Is Not Silent When We Suffer.
Otherwise life will be like the song, Stones Under
Rushing Water.
Do the years go by like stones under rushing water?
We only know when it's gone.
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