The Alpha of Happiness

UV3048/10000 The Alpha of Happiness
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he
Proverbs 16 v 20

Happiness is an universal quest but few find it. The uni-verse clearly states that when we trust the Lord who created and redeemed us, we are happy. Happiness is not a future state of mind but it is our present state of being blessed by the Lord. It is impossible to find happiness except with and in the Lord for all the parts of our lives are carefully put together by Him. Trusting the Lord implies trusting His word, His commandments, precepts and promises. When we trust the Lord, we have peace, security, forgiveness, hope, access to His amazing power and unlimited resources. We obtain wisdom from His word and that is the basis for happiness. What the Lord delights in becomes our source of strength. Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount taught us that happiness is all to do with our inner attitudes. Happiness is little to do with our externals. It is the result of the kingdom of God being established within us and amidst us.

Trust in the Lord implies contentment with whatever He has given us this far or led us into. It is not as if happiness means that we do not face any challenges, problems or difficulties. It is knowing that the Lord is actively engaged with us in all our struggles. Happiness consists in knowing that we have the Lord for help in our most difficult moments. Happiness lies also in being able to enjoy the fruits of the sweat of our brow. Happiness also lies in seeing our children being sharp as arrows that hit the God-willed and intended targets in life. Acts of giving generously and serving selflessly are also sources of true happiness.
What then is counterfeit happiness? False happiness is taking pleasure in monetary or material abundance. False happiness is also pandering to our senses, the appetites of our bodies. Such happiness is fleeting and as fickle as wealth itself. True happiness comes in accumulating spiritual wealth of wisdom, faith and love. True happiness comes from using all our abilities, talents and gifts to serve both God and man.