I Can't Be Happy Because They Won't Let Me!

Happiness. A fickle emotion at times, coming and going with circumstances. So many times, we let personal happiness depend on approval by others. In essence, we let them control us, our moods, and our attitudes and at worst our lives. This is nothing new. People tried to manipulate and intimidate Jesus. He was told that he couldn't teach certain things or do certain things. When this didn't work, his character was maligned and when this didn't work people started to resort to doing physical harm. Yet, Jesus kept on. These things had their effect on Him, but ultimately, He did not need anyone's approval. He had His Father's and that was enough.

Even Paul had his antagonists. Ph'p.1:15-18 is a good example of this. It is sad, that there were those who were teaching Christ, not because they believed, but simply because they wanted to make more trouble for Paul while he was in prison. Already a place of despair, they sought to make Paul's life more miserable and robbed of happiness. What was Paul's sentiment about this?  Php 1:18  "But that doesn't matter. All that matters is that people are telling about Christ, whether they are sincere or not. That is what makes me glad. I will keep on being glad..."

You can be happy no matter what happens in your life if you don’t let others control your attitude.

You don’t need other people’s approval to be happy. The truth? If you haven’t got someone’s approval now, you’re probably not going to get it. If we try to live for the approval of everybody else it is we who will end up miserable. Why do you think you need a person’s approval? If we are doing what is right, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks or does. All that matters is what God thinks. Paul writes in Php 1:28, "Be brave when you face your enemies. Your courage will show them that they are going to be destroyed, and it will show you that you will be saved. God will make all of this happen..."  Paul says it is a privilege to suffer when you’re doing the right thing because that is when you’re most like Jesus - when somebody’s nailing you to a cross and trying to get at you.

Have you stopped to consider, that when you feel attacked or criticized, that God might be working in you and through you? For your benefit as well as for another's?

Jim