Happy or Sad?
What kind of day are you having today? Are you happy or sad?
I know that God wants me to be a better person.
Sometimes I feel like I am making a difference. Sometimes I do what I know God would want me to do and I feel happy. Other times, I try to be a better person but I make mistakes. Sometimes I do things or think things that I know makes God sad. That makes me sad too.
The Bible tells me – think about things that are right, pure and lovely.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put into practice. And the God of peace be with you.
If today’s thoughts are tomorrow’s actions, then how are your thoughts going? Do you think too much about sad things? Are you sad when other people do things well? If this is you, then the older you get, the sadder you will get. God asks us in the Bible to think about those things that will improve us. He asks us to set aside our sad thoughts BUT to then fill the space with good things – with noble, pure, admirable and praiseworthy things.
Think of the people you admire. Is it the sad person who says bad things about other people?
I think not. Is it the happy person: The person who sees the possibilities in situations, the thinker, the dreamer, who keeps on keeping on when the goal is noble and worth the pursuit: The person who seeks God and encourages others to do so by word and by action – I think so: This person is worth looking up to. Perhaps this person is you. If it is – keep it up – you are what makes this place special.
There was a lady in the Bible and her name was Sarah. It is a real story about a real person. She was sad because she wanted to have a baby. After many years of trying to have a baby, she gave up. She was too old and her husband was too old. But, God promised Sarah that she would have a son. This made Sarah laugh.
“How can this be?” asked Sarah. I am too old.
But God kept His promise. God always does.
But Genesis 21 tells us that –
5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” 7 And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
Sarah had a child when she was 91. She named her son Isaac which means laughter. Sarah was happy that, after so many years, she now had a son. Sarah was happy that she was so loved by God that He would be so kind to her.
Like Sarah, God will never leave us, even when we are sad …
… and that should make us happy
