Who is the source of your happiness? Your joy?\u00a0 Your peace?\u00a0 It is easy to make other people the source of our contentment.\u00a0 In fact, when it comes to our most intimate relationships, it is hard not to do so.\u00a0 When we get married, we make our spouse our \u201cbetter half.\u201d\u00a0 We become so close to that person that what they do and say affects us personally.\u00a0 For some of us, our relationship with our children is even closer.\u00a0 We love our children so much that we\u2019d put ourselves in harm\u2019s way to protect them.\u00a0 So it isn\u2019t surprising that we expect those relationships to meet all our needs.<\/p>\n
But the problem with placing such high expectations on other human beings is that it is a recipe for disaster. Human beings are fallible.\u00a0 They make mistakes.\u00a0 They occasionally are selfish.\u00a0 They can be rude or moody.\u00a0 No human being is perfect.<\/p>\n
The happiest people realize that there is only one source for all things: God.<\/p>\n
When we make God our source for all things \u2013 happiness, finances, health, etc. \u2013 life becomes much easier.\u00a0 We aren\u2019t pressuring others to fulfill those needs.\u00a0 Instead we are turning to God and are saying, \u201cHelp me.\u201d\u00a0 And the beauty of it is that God will answer that prayer.\u00a0 He may not answer it in the way that we expect, or in the timeframe of our choosing, but He will answer.\u00a0 And He will take care of us.<\/p>\n
For instance, let\u2019s say your spouse is in a bad mood. He or she is being crabby and difficult.\u00a0 It is hard to not let that behavior affect you.\u00a0 It is hard not to feel tense. \u00a0But when God is the source of your peace, He is also your source of relief.\u00a0 So you can take a break from the situation \u2013 go for a walk, get a cup of tea, etc. \u2013 and spend time with Him.\u00a0 And if you ask, God will ease your tension.\u00a0 He will give you peace of mind and the ability to be calm regardless of what another person is doing.<\/p>\n
Maybe your child is having a bad day. He or she is being defiant and hard to manage.\u00a0 God can be the source of your rest.\u00a0 Send your child to their room with a toy or book, and then take a break with God.\u00a0 You might sit down and read something spiritually uplifting.\u00a0 Or you may lie down, rest your eyes and meditate.\u00a0 You can visualize God being with you.\u00a0 One thing I do in times of stress is to pretend that I am lying down in the palm of God\u2019s hand.\u00a0 I find that to be incredibly comforting.\u00a0 Perhaps there is an image that you can think of that calms you.\u00a0 Once you\u2019ve had your time with God, then you can return your child refreshed.\u00a0 You can give your child a hug, and do something positive with him or her.<\/p>\n
Perhaps you are struggling financially. You can\u2019t depend on other people for your sustenance.\u00a0 The reality is that you spouse could leave or die.\u00a0 Your family members may not always have the resources to help you.\u00a0 And government assistance is never a long-term answer.\u00a0 The only reliable source is God.\u00a0 If you turn to Him, and offer Him your abilities and commitment to work hard, He will present you with opportunities for employment and resources.\u00a0 Take to heart Matthew 7: 7-11:<\/p>\n
\u201cAsk, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8\u00a0<\/sup>For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9\u00a0<\/sup>Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10\u00a0<\/sup>Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11\u00a0<\/sup>If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!\u201d<\/p>\n Human beings are wonderful.\u00a0 We were created to love them and to have relationships with them.\u00a0 They are part of what makes a beautiful life.\u00a0 However, when we think about our spiritual, physical and emotional needs, there is only once true source \u2013 God.\u00a0 He is the one we should go to first.\u00a0 This week put God first in your life.\u00a0 If you do, everything else will fall into place.<\/p>\n \u201cTrust in the Lord, and do good; Who is the source of your happiness? Your joy?\u00a0 Your peace?\u00a0 It is easy to make other people the source of our contentment.\u00a0 In fact, when it comes to our most intimate relationships, it is hard not to do so.\u00a0 When we get married, we make our spouse our \u201cbetter half.\u201d\u00a0 We become so close…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":593,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nso you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
\nTake delight in the Lord,
\nand he will give you the desires of your heart.\u201d
\nPsalm 37: 3-4<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"