So I have been wrestling with God over the issue of happiness lately. God does not care whether I am happy or not. God does not care what makes me happy. God does not care what my personal preferences are. He does not care about any of that. God simply expects me to be obedient to His plan and live/do exactly what He wants me to do. I was talking to a friend of mine who was telling me that it was not his choice to live in the desert, but that is what God wanted him to do. I totally get that. I hate the desert. The "valley of the sun" is a terrible place to live...who would choose the desert? Yet, I know this is where God wants me to be right now. The hard part is knowing that God knows that I do not like the desert, and yet He does not care about that preference. I am just expected to be joyful and be/do exactly what He wants me to. I guess part of my problem is seeing happiness as getting my own way versus trusting in God's way. But I wonder, why did God design me this way? If God wanted me to be a youth pastor in the desert of Arizona, wouldn't it make sense that He would put a burning passion for the hot-dry-desert and working at the church? Why give me a love for cool weather and pine trees? That just tortures me. Why allow me to go off to school to become a history teacher which has given me a love of history only to have me not use that in the slightest bit today? Why allow personal preference and things that make a person happy if they don't mean squat to God? I guess there is a free-will argument somewhere in there, I just don't get it. God does not care about my happiness or personal choice. That is what I have come to realize. Perhaps I have known about that all along, its just now sinking in. Who knows? Anyone else out there struggle with this? What are your thoughts on it?
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OK, can I just say that this has been a HUGE argument between me and God of late?!?! HOLY-MOLY!!! I really don't like AZ, either - I'm a Wyoming girl - people from AZ don't have a CLUE what mountains look like! :) I miss my family, and the cool weather and the snow . . . and this whole happiness issue goes way deeper than just where I live, for me. Like you, I often wonder why God gives me feelings and emotions, desires and likes and dislikes, if they don't matter to Him, and in fact are often not at all where He is taking me! God is often described as our Father, or even our Lover, but those relationships on earth are often marked by wanting to make the other happy. You know?? I can't seem to wrap my mind around it. Here is the only thing I have felt from God regarding this - He DOES care, he cares deeply, and there are moments (albeit, sometimes small) when I think He goes out of His way to give me a moment of happiness. I think He cries when I cry, hurts when I hurt, is scared when I am scared . . . but He sees the end. He sees how these things will mold me, and how He can then use them for His glory (and ultimately my happiness, because when I know that I've brought Him glory, it makes me happy). but I tell ya. There are some things in my life that I wonder if they could EVER bring Him glory . . . I have to trust they will. I do know that God had to take me away from all I knew and loved to give me a passion for Him. I don't think I ever would have discovered Him the way I have, if I had stayed in Wyoming. And after all the times I have tried to go back, or even get closer (Colorado is a beautiful state), or even just out of AZ, not a single one of them has worked out. God finally got through to me this last year that He has something for me here. And in the end, I WILL be happy I stayed. I don't know why . . . but I have to trust that since He can see it, He knows what joy it will bring me, and I will be SO THANKFUL that I stayed . . . just wish it would get here already. :)
WHEW!! I am long-winded today!! sorry . . .
hey friend :) um yes......but you already know why.....love ya!
I get this... I do. But, If I were to succumb to the belief that God doesn't truly care about my happiness... I've been wasting a lot of time serving Him.
For me it's a matter of seasons. I can't move on to the next season or next state... until I've learned what I/we came here to learn, what we came here to share and do.
You could have live here for 30 years- for one day that God needed you to say one thing that got through to one jr high kid when He knew no one else in this world could.
No one else has your set of giftings and talents- and I believe that God orchestrates those for the GOOD! (that includes making his children happy)
Landon, with Trenton... you know it is easier to give him what he wants and make him happy. You also know that with holding things will make him a stronger person... not a spoiled brat. We need a NO every now and then to help us appreciate the SO many yes's we have. For you- a beautiful wife who adores you, two handsome young boys who are growing up in the word and will be Men of God some day- thanks to you and Danielle's efforts.
Ok- I guess I said all that to say- Your father in Heaven loves you so very much. With His love come the desire to make you happy. However, He truly knows what's best for you (eternally speaking)
Thanks Melissa! As soon as I read this post, I was like Landon, I don't really agree with what you're saying. And he's like, you want to live in Idaho because that would make you happy; God has us here because he wants us here and he doesn't care if we're happy or not. But I tried to tell him that doesn't prove God doesn't care about our happiness, there are other things in my life that make me happy and they are all a gift from God, gifts that aren't necessary like a beautiful sunset or my boys' laughter or a good cup of coffee. We could live without sunsets, laughter, and coffee, but I believe God gave us these small things to bring us a smile. Here's the verse I mentioned to him too -"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Like you said, God is not going to say yes to everything we ask for, but if it is good for us and healthy for our walk then he will gladly give us what we desire (like we do with the boys for sure!)
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