Are You Truly Happy?
Are you happy? I mean, truly happy?
Most of us can answer that question with another question: “Well, what day is it?”
When things are going our way, happiness comes easily. The family is doing well. The bills are paid. We have something to look forward to. But let a disappointment arrive, an unexpected expense show up, or someone say the wrong thing, and our answer might change.
We spend so much of our lives chasing happiness. A better job, a nicer car, a bigger house, another accomplishment. We tell ourselves, “If I could just have that one thing, then I’ll be happy.”
And sometimes we’re right. We finally get what we wanted, and it feels wonderful.
For a while.
Then we get used to it. The new car becomes the car that needs washing. The bigger house comes with bigger expenses. The accomplishment we worked so hard for becomes something we barely think about because we’re already focused on the next one.
The finish line keeps moving, and we keep running.
I recognize that pattern because I’ve lived it. And even though I understand it better today, I still catch myself believing that something I don’t have might make me happier.
Knowing better doesn’t mean we stop struggling. Sometimes it just means we recognize the trap a little sooner.
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying what we’ve earned or working toward a goal. We can be grateful for our lives and still want to improve them. The trouble begins when our ability to enjoy today depends on getting something tomorrow.
How often do we postpone our happiness that way?
We’ll relax when work slows down. We’ll enjoy each other when the schedule clears. We’ll appreciate life when this problem is finally behind us.
Meanwhile, we’re living through days we will never get back.
Imagine waking up tomorrow and allowing yourself to be content with what you already have. There may still be bills to pay, problems to solve, and things you hope will change. But those things wouldn’t get to determine whether the whole day was worth enjoying.
You could appreciate the conversation without checking your phone. Enjoy a meal without rushing through it. Look at the person beside you and remember how much they mean to you.
Those moments are easy to overlook when our attention is always on what comes next.
Gratitude helps bring us back. It asks us to notice what is already here: the people who love us, the help we’ve received, the prayers that have been answered, and the good we’ve started taking for granted.
But what about the days when life is genuinely painful? When gratitude doesn’t come easily and our circumstances give us very little reason to feel happy?
That is where Jesus’ words mean so much:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” — John 14:27
Jesus spoke those words to His disciples before His crucifixion. He knew trouble was coming. His promise of peace wasn’t based on everything going smoothly.
That matters because we sometimes expect faith to make us feel happy all the time. Then, when we’re anxious, disappointed, or grieving, we wonder whether we’re doing something wrong.
We can love Jesus and still have a hard day. We can trust God and still wish our circumstances were different. Peace doesn’t require us to pretend that something painful feels good.
The peace Jesus offers gives us somewhere to turn when we cannot fix what is happening. We can pray honestly, admit that we’re afraid, and trust that we are still in His care.
I’m still learning to do that. Sometimes I pray about something and then go right back to worrying about it. Sometimes I focus on what’s missing and need to be reminded of how much I’ve been given.
We’re all works in progress.
Perhaps a happier life begins with paying closer attention to where we’re looking for happiness. If we keep expecting the next purchase, achievement, or change in circumstances to satisfy us completely, we’ll probably keep finding another reason to feel dissatisfied.
We can pursue our goals while appreciating the life we have today. We can enjoy good things without asking them to provide the peace only God can give.
We don’t have to put off living until everything falls into place.
Your ripple this week: Pay attention to one time you catch yourself thinking, “I’ll be happy when…” Pause and name something you’re grateful for right now. Then take one worry to God in prayer. Give yourself a moment to enjoy the day you’ve been given.
Doug and Marcia Mithun are The Kindness Couple, sharing encouragement grounded in faith, humility, and kindness. Discover more at TheKindnessCouple.com.
