This week, I'm excited to have Hannah Grace Staton write a guest post for The Remnant. Be sure to check out her blog, The Grace Space!
I think it’s safe to say that everyone wants to be happy. At least, I’ve never met anyone who wanted to be miserable, and I’m guessing you haven’t either. Even people who wallow in their misery generally do so because they find enjoyment in it.
It’s not wrong to want to be happy. The Bible neither outright condemns nor directly commands the pursuit of happiness. Yet, while you won’t find a verse in the Bible that says “Pursue happiness,” God’s Word does show us the path to finding true and lasting happiness.
Happy are the Humble
To find this path, let’s look at the Beatitudes, where Jesus provides a list of people who are blessed (or happy). He says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:3-9 ESV).
A common quality that I see in this passage is humility. Not one of those listed are proud. Have you ever met an unhappy humble person?
The beauty of humility is that it brings a sweet sense of peace that pride can never obtain. A proud person is deeply insecure, constantly on the lookout for someone who will threaten his position and sense of worth. (A Bible character who exemplifies the misery of pride is Saul—see 1 Samuel 18:6-16.) A humble person might not have the outward bravado a proud person possesses, but she has an inner sense of settled confidence and trust in God that remains firm no matter the circumstances. (A Bible character who exemplifies the joy of humility is Mary—see Luke 1:34-38.)
I love the way Dr. Kelly Kapic describes this Christlike quality:
Humility is a distinctly biblical virtue because it begins with the knowledge that there is a good Creator Lord and we are the finite creatures he made to live in fellowship with him. Everything from the air we breathe to the water we drink, from our eyes to our taste buds—everything goes back to this gift of blessed existence. Our being itself comes out of the overflow of divine love and creativity. Humility consists in a recognition of (and rejoicing in) the good limitations that God has given us; it is not a regrettable necessity, nor simply a later addition responding to sinful disorders. Even if there had never been a fall into sin, humility would still have the essential character of gratitude for our dependence on God and for his faithful supply of our need.
God is the wellspring of all joy and delight (Psalm 16:11), and He longs to share that joy with us (John 15:11, Romans 15:13). He knows that if we search for happiness in ourselves, we’ll never find it. So, He points us toward it and paves the path that leads to being more like Him (Hebrews 12:1-2, Philippians 2:5-11).
Pursue humility, and happiness will follow.
About the Author
Before and after everything else, Hannah Grace Staton is a beloved daughter of the King. She is a homeschool graduate, student in the Young Writer’s Workshop, and managing editor at Skillful Pen Press. Hannah Grace seeks to bring her faith to the page in fresh and creative ways, sharing what the Lord has been teaching her in a form others can benefit from. Her desire is that her words would encourage, challenge, and inspire others. You can read more from Hannah Grace on her blog, The Grace Space.
I will see you all next week for a new post!
-Olivia
コメント