Reading
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. As for the things that you have learned and received and heard and noticed in me, do them, and the God of peace will be with you.
I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me but had no opportunity to show it. Not that I am referring to being in need, for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress.”
Philippians 4:8-13
Reflection
What else do you need to be happy?
For you, this might be any number of things. If I could just…
- Get a promotion.
- Buy a nicer house.
- Become financially secure.
- Find a Spouse.
- Rest.
- Have a better relationship with my parents.
- Get my kids to listen and obey even occasionally.
- Get through this busy period.
It is easy to feel like we are just a step or two away from finally being happy. “If I just…”
You probably have had things in the past that you thought would make you happy that you later received, but if you’re like most people, whatever happiness they provided did not last. Contentment is a moving target. When we achieve something we have longed for, we enjoy it for a bit, but then the satisfaction fades, and we begin to look for the next thing that will make us happier.
This is true even of the highest achievements. On Sunday, Pastor Mark shared about figure skaters who won Olympic medals—something that marked them as the top skaters in the world—but who soon after felt empty. This is a common experience for Olympic medalists. Despite achieving the goal they had trained their whole lives for, they are not enduringly happy.
As long as we seek happiness from external circumstances, we will not find it. The Apostle Paul knew this well. Writing from a prison cell, he tells the Philippians, “I have learned to be content with whatever I have. . . In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
If happiness depended on external circumstances, Paul would have no chance. He’s in prison! Yet his letter to the Philippians is full of joy and gratitude because his joy comes from within—from knowing and trusting Jesus.
Instead of seeking happiness in future achievements, we have to learn to find it in the present. If we do not learn to be happy now, our achievements will not help.
This does not mean the hard and even devastating things in our lives will just go away. It’s not to say that we do not have legitimate needs. Nor does it mean that we should deny them and pretend like they aren’t hard. It’s simply that we learn to accept that they do not define us, and they cannot steal our joy.
When we find our joy in belonging to Christ, that does not mean we give up on goals or stop trying to achieve excellence. It simply means we learn to find joy in the pursuit, not the achievement.
Perhaps the better question is not what you need to be happy, but what you need to let go of to be happy. What are you putting your hope in that, even if you receive it, will just leave you longing for something else a few weeks later?
Practice letting go of those things. You might even imagine holding them in your hands, clenching your fists, and then slowly open your hands and praying, “God, I offer these to you.”
And in time, you may find that when asked what you need to be happy, you can say, “I have everything I need.”
Prayer
God of abundance,
You give us what we need:
A world of goodness,
A community that loves us,
And your enduring presence.
So often, though, we focus on what we lack.
Help us to recognize your gifts,
To let go of the things that can’t bring us joy,
And to rejoice in you.
Through Jesus Christ we pray,
Amen.
