The ever-thoughtful Charlie Brown asked his friend Linus, “What do you think you’d like to be when you grow up?’ Linus thinks a moment and replies, “Outrageously happy!”
Aw, the ever-elusive state of happiness. Being and remaining happy is a little like accurately predicting the weather. We can’t do it because there are so many outside forces involved. By definition, happiness is determined by our circumstances that are many times out of our control. So, the natural tendency is to arrange our circumstances so that we will be happy. We buy newer and shinier things. We look for a different job. We fill our calendars with events and hobbies that are sure to bring happiness. But they don’t … not long term anyway. The truth is, we can’t find happiness by seeking more things, better relationships or more extravagant vacations.
True happiness is found by seeking God. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” However, when we seek all these things first, God becomes an afterthought. And I don’t know about you, but when I take on the job of trying to make myself happy, the results are temporary, at best. The Apostle Paul described the kind of happiness God provides, except he used a different word. He said in Philippians 4, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation … “ and then he went on to say, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” That word content is closely related to the word thankful. True happiness is found in being thankful for what we have.
Thankfulness comes up 71 times in the New Testament. My favorite is in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 , which says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
This Thanksgiving, I hope we will all be thankful for what we have … our homes, our families, food to eat, freedom to worship … and the things we don’t have and wish we did … I for one am going to try to let go and thankfully let God be my provider.
