Happiness: Is it a choice or by chance?

I don’t think anyone likes to be sad, I know I don’t. But sometimes we kinda get stuck there. I am wondering if we are sabotaging our own happiness.

Does it really happen by chance or by choice?

God’s Word says, “To everything there is a season, a time  for every purpose under heaven: ……..”Ecclesiastes 3:1.

But, time is something most of us feel we don’t have enough of. We are restricted by it. We allow the perceived lack of it to drive us crazy and stress us out. This continued anxiety stricken state of mind can reduce our health and cause us to morn during a season God intended for laughter.

Sometimes after a few years of this saddened state we may feel our entire life is one  big unhappy mess. But, I have learned that happiness is a choice. I can choose to be happy regardless of my circumstances when I trust God with all the details of my life.

Why? Because He is the only One who really controls anything anyway. And He alone has the power to change it. Our job is to keep our focus on Him and do what He says. Then there is no regret or second guessing ourselves. We can trust God and know He has our best interest at heart. He promises He will never leave us nor forsake us. He can even bring good out of all our mistakes.

I know times of extreme sadness will come like when we lose a loved one or deal with illness. And we will have to deal with them when they do. But we don’t have to invent drama  by phoning fifteen of our favorite friends and hashing over all the difficult events of the day. That only creates more stress and causes us to focus only on the bad things that happen.

We do not have to cause ourselves unnecessary pain by choosing to be involved in situations that we know we shouldn’t be. We just have to trust God with today and release our situation into His capable hands. Then the joy, what some of us call happiness, will come.

Happiness may take a little work. We may have to let go of some bad habits or distance ourselves from some friends or family for a season. But, it will be worth it when we can rejoice no matter the circumstances.

Choose happiness this season and save the sadness for when God has determined we will walk in sadness. Until then let us rejoice!

“I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of his labor—it is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

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