Why Holds the Key to Your Happiness?

Who holds the key to whether you feel broken or secure? Society says other people define you. Culture says other people determine your level of happiness.

I believed those lies for many years. When my husband Larry was unhappy with me early in our marriage, I believed I had created his unhappiness and held the key to his happiness.

And when he was gone most of the time working two jobs and enjoying a flying hobby, I concluded I wasn’t valuable. I must be the one broken.

Praise God that He healed our marriage. One of the keys for Larry and me was not to be defined by the other’s moods, words, or misperceptions. We realized only God held the key to our happiness because He defined each of us perfect through Jesus Christ, not the beliefs or words of others.

Interestingly, Jesus’ disciples were unhappy and fearful when other people disagreed with Jesus. In Matthew 15, Jesus had a discussion with the Pharisees and they were unhappy. The disciples said to Jesus, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this [your] saying” (vs. 12)?

The disciples must have expected Jesus to exclaim, “Oh, no. Really? I didn’t think my words would offend them. I’ll go immediately and ask their forgiveness. I’ll be more careful next time.”

Not quite. Jesus didn’t change the Father’s plan or diminish speaking the truth because those “in power” were upset. If he did, he would have been motivated by discontent with the lack of acceptance by others. But Jesus didn’t have a single people-pleasing bone in his body. He knew they didn’t hold the key to His happiness, His value, His success, or His future.

Who holds the key to your happiness and to your sense of your importance and value?

Proverbs 29:25: “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe” (ESV).

Prayer: God, help me to keep my eyes on you because you are the only one who considers me beautiful all the time. Help me remember that others do not hold the key to my happiness. Amen.

What will you do this week about looking to God as the source of your value?

Copyright © by Kathy Collard Miller XII.XXII.MMXVII

This guest blog is adapted from Pure-Hearted: The Blessings of Living Out God’s Glory.Kathy is making a copy of Pure-Hearted available to the winner of a book drawing. Enter to win by midnight on Friday, January 19, 2018 by writing a comment about the post on www.YvonneOrtega.com. The winner will be drawn on Saturday, January 20, 2018. This offer is available only to those with a United States mailing address.
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*Pure Hearted will inspire you to focus on desiring God’s glory and enjoying the benefits without guilt—benefits like security, satisfaction, and stability.

Filled with biblical principles, practical instruction, and motivational stories, Pure Hearted is written for women. Every chapter includes a profile of a biblical woman along with discussion questions for groups or individuals.
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Kathy Collard Miller is an award-winning author of over 50 books that include Christian living topics, women’s Bible studies, and Bible commentaries. She is a speaker who has shared in 8 foreign countries and over 30 states in the United States. Kathy and Larry have been married for 47 years and are the parents of 2 and grandparents of 2. They live in Southern California and often write and speak together. Visit her at www.KathyCollardMiller.com. She would love to hear from you.

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