Overcome Misery: Be Happy

Living in the world today can be full of disappointment—or it can be full of beauty, joy and happiness. Our approach makes all the difference!

Many of us grew up watching the lovable characters of Winnie the Pooh. They each showcase a unique personality we can relate to. One of the most beloved characters is Eeyore, the pessimistic donkey who always seems to have something to be down about.

Eeyore once said something that we can learn from: “I was so upset, I forgot to be happy.”

Sometimes life contains disappointments, but what matters is how we respond to those disappointments. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, we need to be proactive. Dealing with misery and disappointment is all about perspective.

What’s our focus?

Let’s ask ourselves: What is our overall outlook on life? Do we have a humble attitude, or do we have the mind-set that life owes us something?

The truth is that life is just a vapor (James 4:14). We are not here to get what we want. We are here because of God’s wonderful plan. Let’s ask ourselves: What does God expect of us? He wants us to develop righteous character.

We must be careful not to focus entirely on problems because “anxiety in the heart of man causes depression” (Proverbs 12:25). We must not nurture worry and disappointment. Problems exist, and we have to deal with them as we are able. The rest is out of our hands. Jesus Christ puts it all in perspective in the Sermon on the Mount: “Do not worry about your life. … Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Matthew 6:25, 27). It is better to obey Christ as He points us toward a better focus: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (verse 33). We must maintain perspective.

James tells us to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2). We might call it happiness. The Bible calls it joy. Joy, a fruit of God’s Spirit, does not happen on its own. Just like the other fruit of the Spirit, it must be developed. Joy is not just a feeling but a way we should live our lives. Real joy comes from knowing that God truly cares about us and has something incredible planned for our future, and this makes trials pale in comparison.

What can we do?

• Pray! God is the One “who comforts the downcast” (2 Corinthians 7:6). We should ask for help to deal with problems. “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength” (Isaiah 40:29). We must have hope, which is confidence in God. We must believe He will fulfill His promises.
• Be content! “Be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). God is the supplier of all our needs. When we shift our focus to Him, everything else becomes less important. “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:5-7).
• Be thankful! It is easy to be thankful when we receive things that make us feel good, but it is hard when we face trials. It goes back to developing godly joy. “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4). There is always a reason to be grateful; we just have to look for it.

Read our blog post “Overcoming Depression” to learn more about battling depression and developing a spirit of joy in your life.

Johnathan Armstrong attends the Little Rock, Arkansas, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, and is a graduate student working on his doctorate in physics.