Happiness - A Positive Choice
Hey sweet friends!
Have you ever found yourself searching for happiness in people, things or circumstances? If so, you’re not alone. For years, I did too. Through this Proverbs study, God’s been gently reminding me that true happiness isn’t something we find out there… it’s something we choose in Him. This post is a glimpse into how He’s been working on my heart and redefining what happiness really means. 💛
If you would’ve asked 23-year-old me what I’d be doing 30 years later, I never in a million years would’ve said studying the book of Proverbs… or memorizing scripture… or designing Biblical printables, let alone leading a study!
But God. He knew.
He had bigger, better plans for me…and for that, I’m beyond grateful. He was working on me all along; continuing to knock on the door of my heart until that day, at 37 when that knocking turned into an invitation into my heart.
God also had a plan when He whispered to my heart to go to Proverbs. It sounds cliché, but honestly, the Charlie Kirk situation is what led me there. I felt that gentle nudge because there were things in my own heart that needed work. And I thought, if I, as a woman, wife, and mom, need this kind of encouragement, maybe someone else does too.
So I decided to create a study plan with these printables in hopes that it might help another woman who needs a little direction…errrrr maybe even re-direction…like me! Proverbs….boy oh boy is it eye-opening but just what my heart needed.
This study has pulled me deeper into God’s Word than I ever imagined, and that’s the beauty of it. Apparently, that’s exactly what He needed me to do. My hope is that as you follow along, you’ll also feel led to dive deeper and see what He reveals to you.
While working on this week’s printables, I landed in Proverbs 16 and came across something in my Women’s NIV Study Bible that stopped me in my tracks:
“Happiness can be defined as a feeling of spiritual contentment that will carry you through the triumphs, pitfalls, or even heartaches of life with calm, stability, serenity, peace of mind, and tranquility.” (Matthew 5:3–12)
Of course, I had to look it up…and when I did, it hit me like a ton of bricks. It led me right to the Beatitudes…
I had to stop for a minute and just thank God. Isn’t it funny how He does that? That’s what I call a Godwink. He knows exactly what we need, right when we need it.
A couple of years ago, I went through something that made me feel extremely weak because I cried and cried over it. I remember talking with two friends (who didn’t even know each other) and both of them mentioned the Beatitudes. Wild, right? They both pointed me to Matthew 5:5: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
MEEKness not WEAKness...
In that moment, I definitely felt weak, not meek! But God used those two friends to remind me who I really am - loved, chosen, enough. It wasn’t weakness; it was meekness. I'm so thankful for friends like them! The friends who are firm in their faith and know that God is stronger than any storm you face.
That season changed me. Changed me in a way that led me to dive deeper into God's word so although hard, it built a foundation of spiritual growth in me that I will be forever grateful for. It also reminded me of this truth: when we put our hope in people, we’ll be let down EVERY TIME. But when our hope is in God - He never fails us. We’re all sinners, but we are held accountable for how we make others feel.
Back to happiness… my study Bible also says:
“Happiness may or may not be related to the happenings in your life. In many instances, the outward happenings affect our attitudes. However, happiness is also an act of will.” (Psalm 144:15) “Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.”
That stopped me again. Profound.
We all face things that could make us unhappy, but through Christ, we get to choose our response. Happiness is a positive choice.
Happiness is enjoying everything the Lord has given you and not fretting about what’s been taken away or withheld. Matthew 6:33–34 says: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Profound.
Happiness is trusting God’s sovereignty - believing that in every situation, He’s working for our good.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Profound.
I’m in awe of how God is speaking to me through this Proverbs study. He knew.
Happiness. A positive choice.
Happiness isn’t found in things.
Happiness isn’t found in people.
Happiness isn’t found in a job.
Happiness isn’t found in money.
Happiness is an inside job.
Happiness is found in God alone.
Prayer:
God, thank You for the reminder that happiness isn’t found in people or the things of this world - it’s found only in You. Thank You for reminding me that I am loved, chosen and Yours, no matter my situation. Nobody can take that away. Today, I choose happiness because I have hope in You.
I've created a Beatitudes printable for you, my favorite readers. Print this out and let it be a reminder of how cherished you are! https://tinyurl.com/Beatitudes-Printable
Always remember, you are loved!
Kim xo