I read an email this morning. I get a lot of emails.
It's my own fault - I really should unsubscribe from most of them. But I noticed an interesting pattern running through them right now. It goes like this.

It's a new year, and it's time to get ready for the year ahead. I need to do stuff now to ensure my happiness for the coming year. Stock up on the things I will need. Stock up on batteries, stock up on food, and cleaning materials, get the trending fashion items, plan days out, plan walks in the country, pick wild herbs to improve my meals, and place flowers and plants around the house to boost my sense of
well-being and happiness - move to a better house, buy a new car!

Apparently, this is obviously the right time to do all of these things!
Is it?

None of these things are intrinsically bad. None of them are beyond what most of us consider normal activities. But the thing they all seem to have in common is that they all rely on me. My action, my time, and my effort (not to mention my money,) to achieve what those pushing these ideas suggest will achieve - my happiness.

But what happens if I am not enjoying great happiness in six months' time?
Do I look for something else being advertised as the bringer of happiness? Or should I wait until next new year and try again?

According to this thinking, my happiness is wholly dependent upon what I do, where I go, what I wear, or what I eat. The same idea which is peddled by the advertisers and marketeers is an echo of the philosopher Aristotle, who endorsed that alarming idea when he famously said:

Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.  Happiness depends upon ourselves.

This means that not only am I my only source of happiness but if I do not achieve my own happiness, my life has no meaning and no purpose.

And if my circumstances, or the part of the world I live in or any other external force happens to prevent me from finding any happiness - tough.
I have a life worth - nothing.

But consider what Jesus said when His disciples were concerned about these things.

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’..... For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
(Matthew 6:31-33)

Do you see the difference? God simply asks us to rely upon Him and He will provide all that we need. And God not only knows what we need but He knows what is good for us. He has a plan and a purpose for every one of our lives.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
(Jeremiah 29:11)

Our lives are not without meaning or purpose. We do not have to worry or run around seeking after these things and we definitely do not need to 'stock up' on them.

I like God's plan. It does not rely upon a hectic, desperate life, filled with our own vain attempts to acquire all the stuff needed to make ourselves happy. It simply relies upon one very easy-to-do thing. Trusting in the Lord God Who made us, knows us, loves us, and wants to provide us with all that we truly need.

As we trust Him and give Him all the glory - He fills our every need, our every longing and He fills our hearts with His love and begins to show us the plans He has for our lives. He gives us a life full of meaning and purpose.

And better than happiness - He gives us JOY!
And that joy is everlasting!

Find out more HERE.