God is with you, and He calls you to reach out to someone who will listen, care, and pray for you. This is when we are able to look back into a negative situation and recognize something very important God was doing through it. How long will it take before it is effective? After all, wouldn't you be even more unhappy if you found yourself unemployed for an extended period of time? It can change physical symptoms, but not spiritual ones. Sometimes its not Gods perfect will to make you happy. Here are a few suggestions of Bible passages you can read. Isnt it amazing that when he disciplines us, hes disciplining the son in whom he delights, or the daughter in whom he delights? Lesson: Dealing With Difficult People. He delights in his children whom he disciplines. I can relate because I believe I have a thorn in my side! So God is a good God and a generous God who wants to bring joy and happiness into our lives. Instead, depression seems to go to your very soul, affecting everything in its path. (Full disclosure: I may have actually miscounted the number of exclamation points. Maybe Im wiser now because of it, and God is going to use that wisdom in a situation on down the road. my portion in the land of the living. (Psalm 142:5), Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Instead, depression seems to go to your very soul, affecting everything in its path. These things result from a dynamic relationship with God. When God tests your endurance, hes not doing it because he doesnt love you. Had no understanding of development, no understanding of the law related to children with disabilities. Youre only 60 minutes into a 2-hour movie. Learn more or donate today at, A Hunger for More: Finding Satisfaction in Jesus When the Good Life Doesnt Fill You. I couldnt understand why someone dumb as a rock was promoted into one of the most important positions of all, but hey? If we are not absolutely convinced that God alone is good, we will not be able to say No to other gods that promise joy but deliver sorrow. I just dont know, and if I go toe to toe with these nutjobs.. what is the personal cost to me, and those educators i still hold in high esteem? If you answered yes to one or more of these, chances are high that you are living in an unhappy marriage. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. This takes omnipotent divine power to sustain Christians through times of testing. When Jesus Christ lived as a human, He had to deal with many difficult people. Is there a lack of sex or physical affection in your marriage? Bottom line: An unhappy marriage should be an indicator that there are things God wants to address in our lives and in our marriages, so that we can pursue healing and wholeness in every area of our lives. The Father, the Son, the Spiritthey delight in each other. When I dig beneath the surface of any sin in my life, I find that I am trying to get something good apart from God and his ways. That doesnt always look like smiling or laughing all the time. He learned wisdom and maturity to go with his spiritual gifts. David says, In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. All rights reserved. These limits stem from love. Jesus is God the Son, and He is certainly loved by his heavenly Father. This is so discouraging because I moved many miles so that I could come to this school. Joseph learned a great deal in his prison. With the Lord, working in us, we will have that rewardIll work.And I know Ill worry sometimes, it creeps in..but I am Happy & in this part, I will: Wait, for the ever after. portalId: "23810839", Stop fighting, and embrace what God wants you to learn and who He wants you to help there in that cell next to yours. And what's more God alone is good. Learn how your comment data is processed. Are there parts of your life you want to avoid? Do you find that things you once did easily now strike terror in your heart? }). Say with the psalmist, The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup (Psalm 16:5). Dont think your case is unique. Beauty and Temptation Second, God's beauty fills the affections of our heart, which is essential if we are going to meet our foes of sin and temptation with success. Billy Graham is one of the most influential and respected spiritual leaders of the 20th century. But He promises that, in the end, it will all be worth it. But as we said, holiness not happiness must be the priority . The man who hates and divorces his wife, says the Lord, the God of Israel, does violence to the one he should protect, says the Lord Almighty. Or would it? (Institutes, 1.2.1). Sometimes Ill go through a trying situation and feel like Ive completely lost. I recently got a Facebook message from a well-meaning Christian friend: God has seen everything youve been going through, and He told me to tell you ITS OVER! (Psalm 16:4), For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity. 3. I start off my prayers with my real request- telling God that I really would love to be married some day, maybe throwing in a specific request here or there ("God, can he be funny, and at least one inch taller than me?") Does it help to know that you are not alone? Dead, but walking, is one way to describe it. Second, what makes us happy is not always what's best. I am going to be 70 & I still whine, murmur & complain whenever He tells me: Wait. Instead, He encourages us to start with Jesus. I discovered God was often keeping me there to prepare for my future. (Matt 16:24, John 16:33) If we were sitting together, Id probably ask you about sleep habits and exercise habits and eating and so on. How did she know God was OK with it? Bottom line: If happiness is your primary expectation of marriage, you will most likely find yourself disillusioned and disappointed. If we are in Christ, then God has saved us from our sins in the past, and he will save us from his wrath in the future. This isnt a Disney movie where everything ends happily ever after because there is no ever after. . Truth today is seen as relative, feelings fuel our experience, and a consumer-driven mindset fosters more transactional attitudes toward relationships. You see, when we find ourselves unsettled or unhappy it doesn't necessarily mean that God wants to change our situation. Suffering was not part of the equation at all! He banks his life and his joy on it. God Doesn't Want Me to Be Unhappy, Does He? Physical pain, you think, would be much betterat least the pain would be localized. An unforgiving man holds a grudge. God desires us to stay faithful to our vows because He understands that broken marriages, hearts and homes can be redeemed for His glory. Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord. "Hello Pastor John! The Trinity delights in each other. And what's wrong with the self-obsessed, individualistic culture that dominates our world today? And he had enemies all around him. But that's actually creating a false dichotomy that's important to address because happiness and holiness aren't at odds with one another. Thats her situation, and Ive tasted it, and so I feel a kind of urgency for her. But He does promise abundant life, and that starts now, regardless of circumstances. Romans 15:13 "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.". She told me God told her to get a divorce, even though it was clear the marriage could be saved. Your email address will not be published. But in what sense is he saving us right now? For some people, medication brings relief from some symptoms. }); hbspt.forms.create({ When you have no feelings, how to love must be redefined. And they're delicious. Actually, God cares about our happiness even more than we do. Thats not from heaven. Your trial has ended, and now Gods about to open up the windows of heaven to bless you beyond your wildest dreams!!!!!. 8. It's not uncommon to carry unresolved residue into our new family, but It can affect our ability to form trust & intimacy with others. Does God Care About Our Jobs? Know this about depression: It doesnt tell the whole truth. Second, what makes us happy is not always whats best. Send your queries to "My Answer," c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org. Is that you? I can only imagine the blank stares Id receive. Father, let my unhappiness point me to You, Your healing, Your purpose for my life. I remember one lady I was counseling with marriage problems. Hundreds of millions more have been reached through television, video, film, and webcasts. I hope that made Him smile, at least its a step. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. What are some of the common side effects? The first step to conquering depression is to admit it. Instead of changing our situation, He may want to change us to give us the patience and the inner strength we need to stay with it. A good father is going to set up boundaries so his kid doesnt get hurt. While happiness is used to describe a basic feeling of gladness . What Can I Do to Foster a Deep Hunger for Jesus? His goal is never to do you harm, but instead to produce the character traits youre lacking. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Many people have taken this journey ahead of you. And, its a command. Our happiness is not contingent on the circumstances around us but rather bubbles up from the Spirit within us. I just want to testify that much Christian obedience consists in waiting for God to do what we need him to do when the timing seems very slow to us. I Dont Think it Means What You Think It Means. Love, for you, must become an active commitment to patience and kindness. They call on the name of Christ, but they still try to find security, satisfaction, pleasure, or fulfillment from this world. His back must've looked like a hunk of jelly most of the time because he had these five-times-thirty-nine lashes beat over his back and then healed in all kinds of gnarly ways. Without any hesitation we can say that yes, God wants you to be happy. For me (Mary), depression came with the winter, though warning signs could be felt and seen much sooner. Article Images Copyright , $12.50 to Combat Holocaust Survivors' Hunger. Third, Gods priority is his glory, which leads to real joy. But the life God wants for us is more than circumstantial happiness, not less. The last one is Isaiah 43:23, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Answers from Billy Graham, Cissie Graham Lynch Explores Work & Motherhood from a Biblical Perspective. Amy DiMarcangelo is the author of A Hunger for More and a regular contributor at the Gospel Coalition. Satan tempts us to think we can find something good and satisfying apart from God. 6. My apologies). As a young man marries a young woman, so shall your Builder marry you, and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. And when something is wrong (or simply stupid), God says "don't do it" - even if it was making us happy. And a woman who divorces her husband so she can marry someone else commits adultery.". He does it with the gospel. You see, when we find ourselves unsettled or unhappy it doesn't necessarily mean that God wants to change our situation. But we belong to God. Remind yourself of these attributes throughout the day. As believers, we can choose whether we will hold grudges or practice grace, but if we are truly following Him, the choice has already been made. God definitely wants you to be happy long-term and infinitely, and deeply now in and through those circumstances. Required fields are marked *. Wedding vows may say, till death us do part, but for many those words have lost their meaning. The Father, the Son, the Spiritthey delight in each other. But until that specific time, everything may look like a big mess. But we may be mistaking physical and temporary pleasure for happiness. For whatever was written this is amazing; this is sweeping Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance theres the key word: the endurance, or getting through tough things through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Romans 15:4). Your mind tells you, Everyone will be better off without me. Jesus blood not only washes us clean from the guilt of our own sins, but also washes away the shame we experience when others sin against us. Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. is because we often see happiness and holiness pitted against each other. God wants us to recognize issues within our marriage as they arise, be willing to address them, and work together towards personal and relational growth. Do you often feel you have little to say to each other? Podcast: The Danger in Being a Self-Made Woman (Jen Oshman). But I got nothing. A joyful Christian believes this truth. People have learned to walk in the midst of depression. The book of Proverbs provides much wisdom in dealing with difficult people. God doesn't want you to be depressed and sad for your entire life. Be alert to spiritual warfare. But the most miserable Christians Ive seen are those who live with a foot in both worlds. Stop trying to dig a tunnel out of your cell with a spoon: youll only frustrate yourself. Number 3: Gods priority is his glory, which leads to real joy. Offer compassion to them on their healing journey. Second, you seem to be ignoring the good you actually did accomplish. Then suddenly, when you least expect it, the door will swing wide open and youll step into your destiny. God wants you to be happy because heGodcreated us and the world out of an overflow of his own happiness. ", I think Paul was always crying and always happy. In a HuffPost article, author and speaker, Tyler Ward, concludes that marriage is about personal reformation. Maybe not all the good you wanted, but still some. Find ways you can bless them freely, without expectation. There are so many ways that we can be depleted, and it feels spiritual when it has physical roots as well. Not a shred. Instead, he turned to God and found the inner strength he needed to overcome his discouragement. My persecution, my famine, my nakedness, my lossas painful and as tearful as they areare my servants. The hard news is there are times when its Gods will for us to be held in a trying situation. God created us to be able to taste and enjoy and to hear beautiful music and feel moved by it and to see glorious sights like mountains and oceans and sunsetsand to be just struck by it all. . Let it sink in. They dont put their hope in people or medicine but in the Lord. (Amy DiMarcangelo). I learned how to have mini-strokes, how to experience a level of stress id never known before, and to become incensed with a level of anger i was not sure how to manage. God gives the strength we need; he must work within us. And theyre not happy. Home Youre not fighting a small battle. But when depression descends, you may notice a passing thought about death, then another, and another, until death acts like a stalker. 3:10) This may be my favorite verse now. He is author of. The short-term discomfort is a small price to pay. 2023 28 Mar God wants us to be happy, right? Theres nothing wrong with wanting to be happy, but the next time someone says God just wants us to be happy, remember these 3 things: First, God never promises that we will be happy. Instead of a temporal happiness, He wants us to have a firm peace and confidence that comes from a relationship with Him. That is why a half-hearted Christian cannot have ongoing joy in Christ. Can you imagine me going to a prison and saying, GOD SAYS YOUR TRIALS ARE OVER! It will involve lots of moment by moment choices: 1) take one minute at a time, 2) read one short Bible passage, 3) try to care about someone else, 4) ask someone how they are doing, and so on. And then it goes on to say, "What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Depression is not a simple black and white thing. He wants to give you the desires of your heart. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. region: "na1", What He wants is for each of us to use our pain, our sorrow and disappointment, our loneliness and anger, as an invitation to pursue His healing. Proverbs 12:16 promotes patience in our relationships: "A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.". Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. We run after other gods to find joy, but we find sorrow. Now that good that he works in and through them is the foundation of my happiness. Pray. -- W.J. Here we see that love and suffering can co-exist. Number 1: God never promises that we will be happy. Because God wouldnt want me to be unhappy, would He?. (Genesis 3:6). Copyright 2010 by the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation. Before you were depressed, you could not imagine thinking of suicide. Will you always struggle with depression? If we are in Christ, then God has saved us from our sins in the past, and he will save us from his wrath in the future. It was clear after a while God was the one shutting down every attempt I made to escape. The life God wants for you is so much more than a circumstantial feeling of happiness. Its been 11 years now. Let me be clear, God does not want anyone to stay in an environment where they are not safe physically or emotionally. Things you used to take for granteda good nights sleep, having goals, looking forward to the futurenow seem beyond your reach. She feels important when she talks about what other people are doing. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. I felt the right thing to do was to get married. They're not just in chains in prison. But it cushions the blow when you know that God understands. They are serving me. I really appreciate you answering such hard questions. For example, take 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV): So we do not lose heart. When we put our hands to the plow of our Christian lives, we cannot leave prayer behind. I truly hate stuff like that things that build up false hopes, and do so in Gods name. Show me areas of brokenness from my past that need to be healed so that I can walk in wholeness and freedom. YOURE ALL FREE!? For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. If so for Israel, how much more for those in Jesus. And he does it in and through circumstances. Until then, you have to move forward while trusting that God has a purpose. More than conquerors means they're not just at my feet. No, you're not. "The world tells me that selfish indulgence in lust is where the fun is," Dane said. But there are other reasons. But lately it has been such a struggle to even want to get out of bed in the mornings. Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. These days depression affects as much as 25 percent of the population. He may also be using you to help someone else trapped there. ", Tim Keller, pastor, author, and theologian, defines marriage as, "a lifelong, monogamous relationship between and man and a woman. You see, when we find ourselves unsettled or unhappy it doesnt necessarily mean that God wants to change our situation. (Psalm 16:11). You made the world a little better for some of the kids. Depression says that you are alone and that you should act that way. Will I Still Be Married to My Spouse in Heaven? Still, this doesn't mean God wants us to stay in unhappy . What then shall we say to these things? Sometimes He does, but not always and its important to understand this. Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. Its short-lived. It says that you are all alone, that no one loves you, that God doesnt care, that you will never feel any different, and you cannot go on another day. And he said, "Rejoice in the Lord, and again I say rejoice!". I have been praying, and I will keep praying for God to be my strength but how do you fight when you dont feel like fighting? The Trinity delights in each other. God doesnt decree your trial is over just because I posted some message on your Facebook page. He promises abundant life, and that life starts as soon as we enter relationship with Him, not when everything is in order and circumstances are right. Theyre riding the fence. I will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18 When God said this, He was referring to making Eve for Adam. But it wont answer your spiritual doubts, fears, frustrations, or failures. Because God wants us to love him like he loves us, he gives us the freedom to make good and bad choices that have serious consequences. Ask God to reveal the areas of your heart that need His healing. Two people on the brink of divorce, not because of abuse or infidelity, but because the relationship no longer makes them happy. We arent promised a rose petalled pathway where we skip along singing Dont worry, be Happy. He describes, Although happiness is often a very real byproduct of a healthy relationship, marriage is designed to pull dysfunction to the surface of our lives, set it on fire and help us grow. Look carefully to see if your depression is associated with things like these: Do you have negative, critical, or complaining thoughts? It read as follows: "God has seen everything you've been going through, and He told me to tell you 'IT'S OVER'! Affectionately known as the "World's Preacher" for more than 60 years, the Rev. Sometimes He does, but not always -- and it's important to understand this. Job was a blameless and upright man, and God considered him to be his servant. God hasnt promised to explain everything about what He does and what He allows. God wants us to be happy, but the temporary thrill sin provides is not true happiness. As they describe, the excitement, curiosity, and fun they experienced at the beginning of their relationship are no longer there. But contrary to popular belief, God is not that interested in just you being happy. Is the slippery slope argument against ordaining women valid? But the consequencesbroken relationships and wounded loved onesare not happy .
Presbyterian Hospital Patient Lookup,
Cornell Computer Science Ranking Undergraduate,
Ormond Beach Realtors,
Articles D