Grace and Peace

Every choice we make is coupled with the pursuit of happiness, a yearning that’s as innate to us as breathing.  Imagine, if you will, standing steadfast in a position that drains your very soul, yet you remain fueled by a desire to fulfill your God-given responsibilities.  Isn’t that a pursuit of potential happiness -the peace that comes from a duty fulfilled?

We are all pilgrims on a journey towards happiness though our paths may diverge. Some find happiness in the abundance of worldly possessions, while others find it in serving and uplifting their brothers and sisters in Christ. Some find it in the warmth of family life; others relish the freedom of solitude.

As followers of Christ, we are reminded, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, happiness,  peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness” (Galatians 5:22). The pursuit of happiness, my friends, should not be a frenzied chase. Instead, let us cultivate these fruits within our spirits, and happiness, like a gentle dove, will alight upon us, graceful and unbidden.

Can we decree happiness to appear at our command? Can we seize it and contain it like a child would a firefly? Both science and Holy Scripture affirm, “No.”

Let us then, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, learn how to welcome happiness into our hearts without pursuit:

1. **Contentment in All Circumstances**: Our happiness is not tethered to the changing winds of our circumstances. Even in the most perfect of conditions, the luster of newness fades. The Apostle Paul teaches us, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11). True happiness transcends our earthly desires and possessions.

2. **Seek Sustained, Gentle happiness **: It is the regular experience of modest happiness, not the rare moments of extreme elation, that fills our lives with happiness. The frequency of our happy moments, rather than their intensity, nourishes our souls.

3. **A Heart Turned Outward**: An overemphasis on personal happiness can lead us into a wilderness of discontent. Jesus reminds us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). A life focused inwardly is a life half-lived. To experience true happiness , we must open our hearts to others.

4. **Cultivating Gratitude**: A heart brimming with thankfulness is a vessel for happiness. Let us make gratitude a daily practice, asking ourselves in quiet moments of reflection what we are thankful for. Let the routine actions of our day—a morning shower, the start of a car, the moment we step into our workplace—become triggers for a heart overflowing with gratitude.

Happiness, my dear brothers and sisters, is not a destination at the end of our journey, nor is it a prize to be won through fervent pursuit. It is the natural consequence of a life lived in accordance with God’s will—a life of fellowship, a life grounded in gratitude and a life committed to the service of others.

Let us not defer our happiness  waiting for the ‘right’ moment or milestone. Today, this very day that the Lord has made, is the day for us to rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24).