Peace, yo.
Why are we in such a rush to be happy? Whether we shop beyond our means, or change the channel fifty times, or make an irrational decision in the moment that could later lead to destruction...I have noticed that we are constantly trying to self diagnose and self medicate.
I have seen the saga happen so many times in my life; I see it in my own decision making, but also in decision making of those around me. People are really quick to make selfish demands because they are uncomfortable.
It's a lie. It's a divorce. It's a weekend spent high. It's a good job left because of festering anger. It's money spent that shouldn't be. It's words spoken to hurt. It's gossip. It is breaking away from those who are close to us. It's fear...
Our minds justify such actions in the moment. Maybe we were hurt, and we feel the need to uplift ourselves. Maybe the other person deserves it. Maybe we are just unsettled, and we are trying really quickly to settle our own nerves. And we reach.
David discusses this concept in one of His Psalms: "Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace." Psalm 37:37
I love how Charles Spurgeon puts it:
"To hush the spirit, to be silent before the Lord, to wait in holy patience the time for clearing up the difficulties of Providence—that is what every gracious heart should aim at. "Aaron held his peace:" "I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it." A silent tongue in many cases not only shows a wise head, but a holy heart."
The ultimate character building act is to stop. Stop searching for answers, and rest in Him. It is so hard to tune out the distractions. It is so hard to not listen to the voice that says to act. But God is trustworthy, and He is faithful to give beyond what we could even expect. And it doesn't mean physically. Because I believe in action; there are so many verbs in scripture that require us to act, and to be obedient, and seek His will. But to silent inward restlessness that leads to harmful, life altering decision making is a quiet, character building task.
I have never been given the advice from a close friend telling me that I don't deserve to be happy. In fact, there are not many self-help books that say it. But I will. We don't deserve to be happy.
If we deserved to be happy, what we do to self medicate would truly make us happy. And I am willing to bet that in 5 years, if we look back at the things that we are doing now to fill our time and medicate our weaknesses, we would notice that it doesn't work. It won't, and it can't. We weren't designed for the material in life.
I believe that we were created to have peace and happiness in our lives. But I don't think that it looks the way that we try to make it look. It is backwards. We don't deserve life. But He gave it to us. We don't deserve peace, but when we search for Him, we find it. When we understand what we don't deserve, compared to what He is willing to give to us, we can't help but be overwhelmed, and comforted. And thankful. And we take delight in Him, and we are then even more overwhelmed. And we go in peace because of our love for Him. And nothing else.
I get so sad when I look at my choices that have taken my heart away from God. Because I know that being away from Him is going against my design. My purpose gets altered, and I have to spend energy making my way back. What happens when we stop wandering, and searching aimlessly for immediate happiness in our lives, and surrender to Him?
I think instead of rushing to fulfill our own immediate needs, He wants us to pull up a seat at his dinner party, and recline. He knows that true joy comes from communion with Him. And life gets busy. And things come at us, but it is important to sit back and learn, and grow in understanding of who He is. Because He is happiness.
Luke 7:49-50
"Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
I have seen the saga happen so many times in my life; I see it in my own decision making, but also in decision making of those around me. People are really quick to make selfish demands because they are uncomfortable.
It's a lie. It's a divorce. It's a weekend spent high. It's a good job left because of festering anger. It's money spent that shouldn't be. It's words spoken to hurt. It's gossip. It is breaking away from those who are close to us. It's fear...
Our minds justify such actions in the moment. Maybe we were hurt, and we feel the need to uplift ourselves. Maybe the other person deserves it. Maybe we are just unsettled, and we are trying really quickly to settle our own nerves. And we reach.
David discusses this concept in one of His Psalms: "Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace." Psalm 37:37
I love how Charles Spurgeon puts it:
"To hush the spirit, to be silent before the Lord, to wait in holy patience the time for clearing up the difficulties of Providence—that is what every gracious heart should aim at. "Aaron held his peace:" "I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it." A silent tongue in many cases not only shows a wise head, but a holy heart."
The ultimate character building act is to stop. Stop searching for answers, and rest in Him. It is so hard to tune out the distractions. It is so hard to not listen to the voice that says to act. But God is trustworthy, and He is faithful to give beyond what we could even expect. And it doesn't mean physically. Because I believe in action; there are so many verbs in scripture that require us to act, and to be obedient, and seek His will. But to silent inward restlessness that leads to harmful, life altering decision making is a quiet, character building task.
I have never been given the advice from a close friend telling me that I don't deserve to be happy. In fact, there are not many self-help books that say it. But I will. We don't deserve to be happy.
If we deserved to be happy, what we do to self medicate would truly make us happy. And I am willing to bet that in 5 years, if we look back at the things that we are doing now to fill our time and medicate our weaknesses, we would notice that it doesn't work. It won't, and it can't. We weren't designed for the material in life.
I believe that we were created to have peace and happiness in our lives. But I don't think that it looks the way that we try to make it look. It is backwards. We don't deserve life. But He gave it to us. We don't deserve peace, but when we search for Him, we find it. When we understand what we don't deserve, compared to what He is willing to give to us, we can't help but be overwhelmed, and comforted. And thankful. And we take delight in Him, and we are then even more overwhelmed. And we go in peace because of our love for Him. And nothing else.
I get so sad when I look at my choices that have taken my heart away from God. Because I know that being away from Him is going against my design. My purpose gets altered, and I have to spend energy making my way back. What happens when we stop wandering, and searching aimlessly for immediate happiness in our lives, and surrender to Him?
I think instead of rushing to fulfill our own immediate needs, He wants us to pull up a seat at his dinner party, and recline. He knows that true joy comes from communion with Him. And life gets busy. And things come at us, but it is important to sit back and learn, and grow in understanding of who He is. Because He is happiness.
Luke 7:49-50
"Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
I am so proud of the Godly woman that you are. Great thoughts
ReplyDelete