Happiness Is…

What makes you happy… really, truly happy?

Do you find you’re happiest in a particular place, with a particular person, surrounded by particular things?

I just returned from some sister-time out in Colorado. It was amazing! Chatting over cups of tea or walks through the forest. Climbing the rocky cliffs to find hidden treasures or to watch the glistening, orange fireball sink behind the mountains. And then there’s the wildlife…and thunderstorms. So much to see and do!

And when I got back to the east coast, I found myself missing those things. I sat on my own spacious front porch, nestled into my comfy hammock chair. There was even a lovely breeze cooling my face and just enough cloud cover to fend off the rising heat. This was the very place God and I most often meet to start the day. A place I truly treasure.

Usually.

And yet, for just a moment, I thought how much happier I might be back on that Colorado front porch – where the skies are wider, the mountains higher, and the air clearer.

Then I opened my Bible, found my marker in Psalm 84. And here’s what I read –

“How happy are those who reside in your house, who praise you continually. Selah”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭84‬:‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Selah.

Stop and think about that for a minute. Reflect on its truth. Its relevance in this moment.

I was instantly reminded of two things.

The first is this: isn’t it just like our enemy, Satan, to take something beautiful and twist it into something less than? Satan is the author of discontentment. He points to the fruit that God has forbidden and makes it look much more desirable than what we have right before us. He reminds us time and time again of things we don’t have so our focus will shift from what we do have, stealing our joy and gratitude.

Psalm 84:4 reminds us that happiness is not found in any earthly thing or circumstance or setting. It’s found, instead, in nearness to the very One who created those things we think we want.

As soon as our focus shifts from Him to them, envy, jealousy, dissatisfaction, and longing for something other than what our gracious Father has provided sets in.

But when we keep our eyes on the Lord, His Spirit then reminds us of the many blessings He has already placed in our lives. And especially of the blessing and privilege of being able to be near Him all the time, regardless of where we are.

And when we find contentment in Him, in living in the center of His will, that’s when gratitude most easily flows.

That’s when we find true, lasting happiness.

There’s a sweet nugget of truth nestled near the end of the same chapter. Psalm 84:11 tells us that God doesn’t withhold anything good from those who are walking with Him, those who are set on being near Him. That means those things we might be longing for and don’t have are truly not best for us, at least for now. They may provide a temporary happiness. But anything outside of God’s will for us will never bring lasting peace and joy.

Happiness… True happiness is found simply in the presence of the Good Shepherd, trusting that He will lead and provide exactly what is best; and trusting that He can and will do that for you, for me, for each of His children in just the right way at just the right time for just the right purpose – our good and His glory.

Then, when our hearts find genuine happiness in being near Him, we’ll find our disappointment and discontentment turning, instead, to gratitude and praise.

What a lovely place to dwell!