Are you happy?
If you answered “No”, then congratulations! You’re not alone:
- A 2013 Harris Poll found only 33 percent of people in the United States were very happy.
- A Gallup Poll found just 13 percent of people actually felt “engaged” at their jobs.
- Daily Mail.com reports only 3% of women in the UK are happy with their bodies.
- Another study in the UK, found only 3 in 10 were happy with their lives.
Life Ain’t Easy
Pretty depressing isn’t it? Life ain’t always easy. But don’t despair. You don’t have to be part of those statistics. There is a secret to happiness and contentment. The apostle Paul found it and so can you.
Paul said in Philippians 4:12, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…” What was that secret? Before we answer that take a moment to consider what Paul went through.
Paul’s life was not an easy one. He described his sufferings in 2 Corinthians
11:24-26:
“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move…I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.”
And you thought you had it bad! Yet in spite of all he went through, Paul said in Romans 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
The Secret
What was Paul’s secret? He knew that “…in all things God works for the good of those who love him…” (v. 28) Paul was “…convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (vs. 38-39).
Paul found the secret to contentment in all circumstances – Faith in God. He knew God loved Him with an everlasting love and believed Him when He said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5).
Don’t Fret! Be Content!
You too can be “content whatever the circumstances.” Put your faith in God today and “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
This morning, put your life in God’s hands, trust in Him, and let His peace “…which transcends all understanding…guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Whatever challenges you face today, never forget – you are a child of God! Put your trust in Him and – Don’t fret. Be Content!