Searching for Happiness? - Day 14 - Jeremiah 17:7-10

February 16, 2012 • Leave a Comment

"Happiness is having a large, caring, close-knit family in another city" George Burns

"Happiness depends upon our self." Aristotle

"Happiness is mostly a by-product of doing what makes us feel fulfilled." Benjamin Spock

Analyzing people's activities, studies conclude we all search for happiness. While the search isn't always evident to someone's choices, every act is indeed a longing for that one thing, or moment, where pleasant feelings may be experienced. Therefore, the world's definition of happiness is "a pleasant state of activity" or the "pleasant feeling of fulfillment." However, true happiness can only be found in knowing God (positional truth).

"Blessed (Happy) is the person who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord, for he/she will be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit." Jeremiah 17:7, 8

Based on the Word, specifically, Jeremiah, chapter 17, verses 7 and 8, happiness (positional truth) is found in trusting the Lord and finding hope in who we "know" the Lord to be; His character. What do we "know" (experiential truth) about the character of the Lord? Personally, I know the Lord to be good, all the time. He is kind. He is loving, faithful, gentle, forgiving, able to provide for my every need, all powerful, all knowing, ever present, keeper of His promises and, most definitely, trustworthy.

In what we "know" of God, we find our nourishment and strength. When hard times come, we are not fearful nor are we anxious (stressed). Instead, we experience a peace, a strength, an ability to overcome, that ought not to be, but is so. Why? We are planted in Christ and fruit (His character in us) is being produced. Furthermore, we are not being nourished by the temporary pleasures of life, but our very sustenance and refreshment (pleasant feelings) comes from the depths of our souls as we drink in the truth of His Word (Psalm 1:1-3).

So, what’s the key to truly experiencing this kind of happiness? “We gotta want it bad enough!” We stop searching for happiness “in all the wrong places” and commit to being "planted" (rooted in an on-going relationship) like a tree by a "river" (His Word). The Spirit takes it from there and begins to work within us and we find pleasure in Him; thus, experiencing a happiness the world cannot understand!

Sometimes, easier said than done, but definitely worth the commitment!

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