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Morning Devotions
By Chris Witts
I was
interested in seeing an article about a book by Russ Harris called The
Happiness Trap.
Because
each of us wants to be happy.
But
there’s usually a problem — we’re not happy.
Have a
look at the last chapter in the book Cinderella.
The
last verse reads: ”… and they lived happily ever after.”
Turn to
the last chapter in the book of Sleeping Beauty. The last verse
reads: ”… and they lived happily ever after.”
And
then, if you turn to the last chapter in the book Snow White, the
last verse reads: “… and they lived happily ever
after.”
We’re not asking much: we just want to be able
to live ‘happily ever after’.
Most
people associate happiness with pleasure.
You ask
people, What do you want out of life?
They
reply, I want to have fun; I want to be happy; I want to feel good.
Those
are all different ways of saying pleasure.
We use
phrases like, If it feels good do it, or If it doesn’t feel
good, avoid it.
We have
pleasure- and thrill-seekers everywhere.
We Cannot Control Our Circumstances
Here’s
the problem: Our flesh is never satisfied. It always wants more.
Is that
why we want the latest gadgets or electronic equipment, to give us just one
more burst of happiness?
There
are some people who have an ‘Oklahoma’ kind of happiness. Oklahoma is
a musical. One song from the musical says:
Oh,
what a wonderful morning,
Oh, what a beautiful day.
I’ve got a wonderful feeling,
Everything’s going my way.
Oh, what a beautiful day.
I’ve got a wonderful feeling,
Everything’s going my way.
Happiness!
Now
this kind of approach to happiness means that people spend an inordinate amount
of time, money and energy trying to manipulate their happenings, so they happen
to happen the way they want their happenings to happen.
But the
sad reality is this: There comes a time when you realise
that all your skills, and all your time, and all your energy, and all your
money cannot manipulate your happenings so they happen to happen the way you
happen to want your happenings to happen — and unhappiness is an inevitability!
The Two Meanings of Happiness
Even
the Dalai Lama has said: “The very purpose of life is to seek happiness.”
But
what exactly is this elusive thing we are looking for?
The
word ‘happiness’ has two very different meanings.
Usually
it refers to a feeling: a sense of pleasure, gladness or gratification.
We all enjoy happy feelings, so it’s no surprise that we chase
them.
However, like all our other feelings, feelings
of happiness don’t last.
No matter how hard we try to hold on to them,
they slip away every time.
In fact, the harder we pursue pleasurable
feelings, the more we are likely to suffer from anxiety and depression.
The
other meaning of happiness is a rich, full and meaningful life.
When we
take action on the things that truly matter deep in our hearts; when we move in
directions that we consider valuable and worthy; when we clarify what we stand
for in life and act accordingly, then our lives become rich and full and
meaningful, and we experience a powerful sense of vitality.
This is
not some fleeting feeling — it is a profound sense of a life well lived.
The Right Approach to Happiness
If a
person is happy, it covers a lot of problems in life.
We
probably all have known individuals who have lost money, a job, or a loved one,
but these individuals continue to have a sense of gladness in their lives that
seems to get them through.
You can
lose a lot, but if you are still happy, life continues to be rich and full.
I heard
about the father who told his little boy several times to sit down at the
table.
He
finally said to him, Sit down or I’ll spank you.
And the
boy sat down reluctantly and was silently pouting.
And
then he finally said to his dad, I may be sitting down on the outside
but I’m standing up on the inside.
That
little boy didn’t realise but he was putting out there a principle that
regardless of what’s happening on the outside we can choose how to respond on
the inside.
We can
stop searching for happiness on the outside, and discover peace from him, as we
trust him and talk to him.
Roger
L’Estrange, the English journalist used to say: “it is not the place, nor
the condition, but the mind alone that can make anyone happy or miserable”.
God wants you to be happy — and the only way is by taking notice
of his Son Jesus Christ who said, “I have come in order that you might have
life, and life in its fullest”.
Morning Devotions is a five-minute daily reflection for anyone curious
about faith, or looking for encouragement in their walk with God. In his warm
and friendly style, presenter Chris Witts — a well-loved Salvation Army
minister — shares bite-sized messages applying faith to everyday life.
Hope 103.2 is Sydney radio’s non-denominational, Christian FM station. We broadcast mainstream and Christian contemporary music, and entertaining shows. Programs include lifestyle and current-affairs interviews and a series of popular inspirational segments.
Hope 103.2 is Sydney radio’s non-denominational, Christian FM station. We broadcast mainstream and Christian contemporary music, and entertaining shows. Programs include lifestyle and current-affairs interviews and a series of popular inspirational segments.
Our style is modern,
lighthearted and family-friendly with a focus on the community. Popular shows
include Breakfast with Sam & Duncan and our LifeWords Q&A
Podcast with David Reay.
Hope 103.2 helps people lead
hopeful lives through fun entertainment, helpful content, uplifting experiences
and a unique connection with their community.
