By Mrs. Jacqueline Hampton Jones
AHERN Staff Writer - 5 Post / April 2022

As believers and followers of Jesus Christ, did you know we can forfeit some of God’s blessings & benefits in our lives when we lack faith, trust, and obedience in him? True happiness is to place our faith, trust, and obedience in a loving sovereign divine God who wants the best for us on this side of heaven and beyond. He is a sustaining, loving, grace-giving, mercy giving, peace-giving, joy-giving, forgiving, navigating, correcting, healing, delivering, and prayer-answering God!

Aiming to obtain happiness in the things of this world, should that be our aim? Will that lead us to lasting happiness, more than likely not! Look to Jesus for obtaining the happiness our soul yearns for. Don’t allow the world to create dross in our souls that God desires to purify and refine. We are trying to please everyone else but God and going after the things of this world. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, but lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 KJV) Humbling ourselves before the Lord allows him to refine and restore us, thus removing the impurities from our soul that taints our relationship with him.

In the meantime, as followers of Jesus Christ, we must remember that though we are in the world we are not of this world. In other words, our goals and desires should bring glory to God and please our Lord. If we are going to light up this world, let it be in pursuit of pleasing Jesus, our Savior, and Lord! True happiness can be found in the hope we have in Jesus! Any unhappiness suffered here will be worth it in the end when we will experience eternal bliss like we have never experienced before.

Lasting happiness on earth can only be found through acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. That is first and foremost. No matter what circumstance we find ourselves in, with the holy spirit dwelling within us, studying God’s word, and wearing our spiritual armor to give us the strength to withstand this journey, the Lord is ever-present with us to see us through the dark times with our lives preserved. Our victory is found in Jesus!

Therefore, any aspirations, goals, and desires that we have in this life, should line up with the will of God if we are to reap contentment, joy, peace, and ultimately happiness while dwelling here. Happiness here is not a guarantee, but in the end, eternal happiness is, and that’s a promise from God. So don’t faint, give up, or give in. Take heart, for, in the end, we are going to win and win big! Our aim is to make it to the finish line on this side of heaven so that when this life is over, we will experience eternal happiness in our heavenly abode.

Think on it!