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faith matters
I JUST WANT TO BE HAPPY!
ANDRÉ & JENNY ROEBERT
How many times have we heard that cry, either from those Oh, the amount of times I have sincerely confessed, “I just
around us or even our own, frustrated hearts? Sometimes want to do God’s will...”! I know you have too, in fact it’s per-
we think we will only be happy when things go the way fectly appropriate for every child of God to have the desire
we want them to go. When we don’t have to work so hard to follow the will of our Heavenly Father. And do you know
to achieve what we desire. Or when we reach the goals what I have found to be true? It’s these small, yet extremely
we have set, whether financial or professional. Sometimes, important instructions that produce the greatest blessing
as children of God, we believe true happiness is obtained when we apply them to our lives.
when we see the fulfilment of our prayers.
Thankfulness is a Choice
The truth is, the list of what we think happiness is, could go Everybody wants to be happy, right? Since a thankful heart
on forever and constantly change, depending on where is a prerequisite to a happy heart, it would certainly be in
we are in our lives. Today I read a simple, yet profound state- our best interest to investigate all we can concerning be-
ment that said, “Thankfulness is the prerequisite to happi- ing thankful. I must say the most compelling advocate for
ness, because only a thankful heart can be a happy heart” thankfulness is that it’s God’s will for every believer. And
(Rick Renner, Sparkling Gems from the Greek Volume 2). So, the benefits of walking in obedience to God’s will... which
if happiness is our pursuit, and the Word tells us that a thank- brings us to the truth that thankfulness is a choice of obedi-
ful heart is what is going to get us there - then let’s look at ence. Paul says we are to be thankful in everything. That
what it really means to be thankful! phrase, in the Greek language, means in every detail, or
even in the smallest way. Renner (ibid) refers to one Bible
Being Thankful Is God’s Will for Us translation that says, “In every circumstance, be thankful...”
According to 1 Thessalonians 5:18, being thankful is God’s
will for us. It says, “...in everything give thanks; for this is the You may feel that the circumstances you are facing could
will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” be far more pleasant than they currently appear.
