Have you ever said to yourself “I’ll be happy when…”
- I’ll be happy when I get a job in my career field.
- I’ll be happy when I get a date, when I get married, or when I start a family.
- I’ll be happy when I get a promotion.
- I’ll be happy when I get to college. I’ll be happy when I graduate college.
- I’ll be happy when I retire.
I’ve often succumbed to the idea of joy being in a distant future.
What’s your “I’ll be happy when” story?
What external circumstances are currently robbing you of your inner joy?
Sources of Joy
If you are struggling to find true joy in life, let me share this with you: joy can only come from two different places.
1. Something outside of you changes
2. Something inside of you changes
I’ve learned joy that lasts doesn’t come from any external circumstances.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23 NIV (emphasis added)
The Holy Spirit lives inside the innermost part of all believers(Romans 8:9). He(meaning the Holy Spirit) wants to bring good fruit into our lives. It is His desire.
Both of the above verses are in the context of where we keep our focus.
Do we focus on the things of the flesh or the things of the Spirit?
Do we set our eyes on things of this earth or the things of heaven?
Is our mind consumed by evil or by the things pleasing to God?
What we focus and meditate on clearly has a lot to do with what goes on in the inside of our souls. Even if we achieve the things of this world that we want to, if that’s all our mind is set on doing we have missed a great amount of God’s goodness He has for us.
Truth is, a lot of us can be as happy as we decide to be.
Applications
Instead of hoping for better circumstances, let us look inwardly and dare to ask:
Is it well with my soul?
Truly, our honest reflection on that answer can help set us free from the things preventing us from finding joy.
If the answer isn’t a resounding yes, follow that thought. Why not? Where is the no coming from? What is the root of why I feel unwell with my soul?
Pondering these questions may be hard at first, but there is a great reward for those who find freedom, peace, and joy from God’s Spirit. Aren’t those things worth asking and answering a few simple questions?
As I don’t know what your answers to these questions truly are I want to state, if this is hard or difficult for you, bring someone you trust and/or a spiritual leader into the picture. Do you need to forgive someone? If so, set an appointment, make a phone call, do whatever it takes to make peace with them. It’s worth it!
Finally, spend some time in God’s presence and allow Him to reveal to you just how good He truly is.
Often, I find it best to sit in silence. I’ll leave you with a Scripture that may be helpful to ponder. Until next time, may God’s grace be with you, friend.
“You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” – Psalms 16:11 NIV
